Mulayam is 'soul' of Samajwadi Party, Congress failed to see that: Amar Singh

With the Samajwadi Party being handed one of the worst drubbings in its political history in Uttar Pradesh polls, expelled party leader Amar Singh on Sunday took on dynasty politics and suggested that to survive, the party needs to look for leadership outside the family.

"Dynastic politics cannot be between two parties. Like right wing leader Vaypayee, Advani had no dynastic links and same goes for leaders of Left parties. Will this system come into Congress and Samajwadi Party as well? If we have to survive then we have to find leadership outside family," he said.

He further alleged that the Congress party failed to understand that Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is the soul of the party.

"Reason for the defeat is that many leaders from SP shifted to BSP and vice versa. SP's main soul is Mulayam Singh Yadav ji and Congress party failed to gauge that sentiment. People with Akhilesh were rowdy and hooligans and future will decide what will be the fate of the party," he added.

Singh also blamed the arrogance of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for the defeat in Uttar Pradesh polls, adding that there is a need for introspection for all those dynastic leaders.

Reacting to the comments made by Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav that the verdict in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election did not signify a loss of the party but that of "arrogance.", he said "Shivpal is like my brother. Arrogance is a trait of an ignorant person. If someone gets the power without much effort, then the person is bound to get arrogant.

"In today's political scenario, people who rose to power due to dynasty rule like Rahul Gandhi ji, Akhilesh Yadav ji, Sukhbir Badal ji, Stalin ji and others, should introspect if the present Indian society is willing to accept dynasty politics," Singh added.

In a veiled attack on Akhilesh, senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav earlier said the verdict in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election did not signify a loss of the party but that of "arrogance."

Shivpal was sacked as state SP president by Akhilesh Yadav after a bitter war that saw him seize control of party affairs.

Accepting the defeat in the politically-crucial Akhilesh on Saturday congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its victory and said the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance will continue in future.

"The decision of the public is very well accepted by the Samajwadi Party. We wish all the best to the upcoming government in the state," he said adding, "I am very happy that we formed an alliance with the Congress. Two young leaders came together and this alliance will continue in future as well."

He further said, "Sometimes in politics, you don't get votes by making people understand something, but by enticing them.