Shivpal Yadav floats Samajwadi Secular Front

Shivpal Yadav, younger brother of the Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, has formed a new party, Samajwadi Secular Morcha.

Once right hand man of Mulayam, Shivpal started getting sidelined gradually in the party in the last couple of years. During 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the differences between Shivpal and Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mulayam and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, came on the surface. Shivpal had in the past often mentioned of floating a new party.

Speaking to ANI, Yadav appealed to all those neglected in the Samajwadi Party to join his new party. "I was neglected in the Samajwadi Party and waited for two long years. I was neither informed nor invited in party programmes and no responsibility was given to me. I have constituted Samajwadi Secular Morcha. All those who are not being respected in the Samajwadi Party should come to us. We will also bring together other smaller parties," he added.

Yadav further stated that his focus would be to strengthen his organisation in every district of the state.

Earlier this week, Shivpal said that he has been waiting for the past one-and-a-half years to get a "responsible position" in the party, adding that all party members should unite and fight in the upcoming 2019 general elections.