Samajwadi Party expels six leaders post Shivpal's new front

The Samajwadi Party on Sunday expelled its party leaders who are considered close to Shivpal Yadav.

The list of expelled leaders who have been removed with immediate effect, includes Mohammad Shahid, Deepak Mishra, Kallu Yadav, Rajesh Yadav and Rakesh Yadav.

The decision came close on the heels of Shivpal's announcement to form a new party named 'Samajwadi Secular Morcha' for which Mulayam Singh Yadav has been declared as the party's national secretary.

Following the formation, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "We are politicians, we can easily identify 'Aasteen ke Saanp' (foe in the disguise of a friend)."

Earlier in the day, Mulayam, during a rally in Mainpuri, regretted his decision to make his son, Akhilesh, as the chief minsiter of Uttar Pradesh.

"The Congress party did not leave a single chance to ruin my life and Akhilesh formed an alliance with the same party for the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections," Mulayam said.

"I should have become the chief minister. We would have won the UP polls with full majority if I was the chief minister. The Samajwadi Party lost the polls because of its own fault," he added.

Backing his brother Shivpal's comment where he likened Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav as 'Shakuni', Mulayam said, "Whatever he (Shivpal) said is true," adding, that attempts were made to ensure Shivpal's defeat.