Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav has lashed out at the alliance forged between SP and BSP, by his son and party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
On January 12, SP and BSP declared in a joint press conference addressed by BSP supremo Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav that they will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections under an alliance. As per announcement, SP and BSP were to fight on 38 seats each. But, today it has been declared that BSP will fight on 38 seats and SP will fight on only 37 seats. 3 seats have been given to Rashtriya Lok Dal.
While addressing party workers at the SP headquarters in Lucknow, Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed his disenchantment with the alliance, and also lashed out at Akhilesh Yadav, for agreeing to give BSP nearly half of the seats. He claimed that SP has given up on elections, long before the polling.
“I dot even know why the alliance has been forged,” Mulayam Singh said at the event. He said that he has been made the ‘Sanrakshak’ or Guardian of the party, without having any responsibility.
During the speech, he also acknowledged BJP’s stronghold over the state and said that election will only be between the alliance and the BJP, with Congress making no impact. Lending his support to party chief Akhilesh, Mulayam said that he is ready to help him with ticket distribution if Akhilesh needs. He said that SP has formed its own government in the state without any pre-poll alliance, so why does the party need it now. He pointed out that BSP currently has zero MPs in the state, so it does not deserve so many seats in the pre-poll alliance.
“They used to tell me I am finishing the party. Now, you tell who is finishing the party” Former SP chief said. He added that there was one time that in the state no one cared for BJP and Congress, but now the SP has been weakened to the extent that, other parties are performing better. He further claimed that Akhilesh Yadav has not even asked him from what seat he wants to contest Lok Sabha election. Mulayam Singh Yadav is currently MP from Azamgarh.
Mulayam Singh also talked about declining women representation in the party. He said that previously women had adequate representation in the party but now their participation has reduced.
Singh’s disproval of his son’s decision to forge an alliance had also come during 2017 UP assembly elections. That time too, Singh had criticised Akhilesh Yadav’s decision to fight elections along with Congress.
Mulayam Singh Yadav’s open criticism of party chief Akhilesh Yadav has come days after his praise for PM Modi and his leadership.
“I want to thank PM Modi for taking everyone into consensus. I wish that every member of the house and especially you (PM Modi) return to being Prime Minister again” Mulayam Singh had said at the last day of Lok Sabha session.
