Shivpal Yadav to launch 'Samajwadi Secular Front' on July 6

Disgruntled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Yadav on Wednesday informed about the launch of his new front, saying that the outfit’s name is ‘Samajwadi Secular Front’ and it would be launched on July 6. He said the party will be headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Shivpal further said that the aim is to bring the party on the “right track”.

Shivpal, who has been at odds with nephew and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, made it clear that he was forming just a “front” and not a political party.

“We will constitute the Samajwadi Secular Front on July 6 to bring the SP on the right track. We will formally announce it at a meeting in Lucknow”, Shivpal told reporters.

He said that those sidelined in the party will be associated with the front while talks will also be held with other parties in order to make the SP strong.

“SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav will be the national president of the front and I would be its convenor,” Shivpal said.

It would be a front, and not a political party, he clarified.

Also Read: Samajwadi Party family feud: Akhilesh Yadav overlooks Shivpal Yadav in UP Assembly 

“First of all, the family and then the Samajwadi family will be united and this will be possible under the leadership of Netaji (Mulayam). I want to ensure that ‘Netaji’s’ honour is upheld”, he said.

The Samajwadi Party has witnessed a prolonged factional fight that began before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections with Akhilesh and Shivpal camps on the opposite sides.

Also Read: Samajwadi Party expels five leaders after Shivpal’s announcement of new party

Asked about BJP government’s decision for a probe in the river front project initiated during the SP regime, when he was a minister, Shivpal said, “There were no discrepancies when I was the minister. I don’t know what happened later”. (With PTI inputs )