(NDTV)
In a crucial turn of events in the battle for supremacy in the Samajwadi Party, Mulayam Singh Yadav is likely to announce a new party today along with virtually defunct Lok Dal, and retain the ‘samajwadi’ tag in its name, sources in the two parties have indicated.
The hint of an imminent split in the SP came yesterday when Mulayam Yadav and his brother Shivpal stayed away from a state convention of the party– which they had founded 25 years ago — saying they were not invited. “Mulayam will hold a press conference at the Lohia Trust office here tomorrow to announce a new party with Lok Dal,” Lok Dal president Sunil Singh said.
He said the word ‘samajwadi’ (socialist) will be retained in the name of the new party. Even as the SP prepared for the convention, sources said the two brothers pondered over formation of a secular front under the banner of Lok Dal, hinting fresh differences in the party weakened already by the factional feud which proved to be its nemesis in the Assembly polls earlier this year.
