Mulayam Singh Yadav may float new party

A leader close to Mulayam’s brother Shivpal Yadav said they expected the announcement of a new party because a morcha (front) will require association of more political parties. (Source: Express Archive Photo/Vishal Srivastava)

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav may announce his separation from the party he founded and form a new party or a front on Monday. The announcement is likely to be made at a press conference at the Ram Manohar Lohia Trust office here.

“Netaji on Monday could announce a new path for himself, separate from the Samajwadi Party. He is constantly being ignored by the new party leadership (under son Akhilesh Yadav). He is not invited to the SP’s events. He feels it will be better to separate himself from SP,” said a source close to Mulayam.

The Azamgarh MP has also invited Lok Dal president Sunil Singh to the press conference. Mulayam had once headed Lok Dal’s state unit and was invited to join the party earlier this year when Akhilesh took over the reigns of the SP from him. The Lok Dal even offered party presidentship to Mulayam.

Sources say Mulayam may announce a new party in alliance with the Lok Dal. “On Monday, I will once again offer Netaji to come with Lok Dal and take charge as its national president,” Sunil Singh told The Indian Express on Sunday.

A leader close to Mulayam’s brother Shivpal Yadav said they expected the announcement of a new party because a morcha (front) will require association of more political parties.