Mulayam Singh Yadav is likely to announce a new party on Monday along with virtually defunct Lok Dal, and retain the ‘samajwadi’ tag in its name, sources in the two parties have indicated.
The hint of an imminent split in the SP came yesterday when Mulayam and his brother-aide Shivpal Yadav stayed away from a state convention of the party– which they had founded 25 years ago — saying they were not invited.
Lok Dal president Sunil Singh told PTI that Mulayam will hold a press conference at the Lohia Trust office here tomorrow to announce a new party with Lok Dal.
He said the word ‘samajwadi’ (socialist) will be retained in the name of the new party.
Even as the SP prepared for the convention, sources said the two brothers pondered over formation of a secular front under the banner of Lok Dal, hinting fresh differences in the party weakened already by the factional feud which proved to be its nemesis in the Assembly polls earlier this year.
However, Akhilesh, struck an emotional note when he said, “Netaji (Mulayam) is my father and this party (SP) belongs to him. His blessings are with us and we will carry forward his legacy. My father has always been with us and will remain with us.”
