(NDTV)
Akhilesh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, will have to now officially contend with father Mulayam Singh as a political opponent. A new party, headed by Mulayam Singh, is being formed, claimed the 77-year-old’s younger brother, Shivpal Yadav today.
The new outfit, described as a “secular front’ will be called Samajwadi Secular Morcha, said Shivpal Yadav, who is seen as a primary reason for the estrangement that engulfed Akhilesh and Mulayam Singh ahead of the election in Uttar Pradesh, which their Samajwadi Party lost big-time to the BJP.
Akhilesh Yadav did not comment on his father being named to head a rival party, only saying that he welcomes more “secular politics,” and adding, “I don’t know what shape this will take. As for the Samajwadi Party, it has passed every test and will continue to do so.” When they should have been focusing on campaigning, the Yadavs lavished time and attention to their dispute. Akhilesh Yadav, 44, felt his father was being misled by Shivpal Yadav and that together, they were plotting to exclude him from crucial decisions like selecting candidates for the election.
