Mulayam shares stage with Shivpal at Lohia's death anniversary event

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday shared the stage with brother Shivpal Yadav, who has recently formed the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM), at a programme organised on the death anniversary of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia.

Last month, Mulayam had appeared at an SP rally in the national capital, along with his son and party president Akhilesh Yadav.

Addressing the gathering at Friday's programme, Mulayam highlighted Lohia's ideologies and urged the youth to follow his path and "fight against wrongdoings".

"Lohiaji taught us that if an elder brother does anything wrong, he should also be protested," he said.

Shivpal later told the media that he had the "blessings" of his elder brother Mulayam.

"It is our responsibility to carry forward Lohia's ideologies. When netaji (Mulayam) is with us, we will bring in a new revolution and change in the country," he said, adding that he would not go for any "pact" with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh.

"We will carry forward Lohia's ideologies and fight communalism. We will not do any pact with the BJP. Our fight is with the BJP," Shivpal added.

"I hope netaji will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls on our ticket. We have already decided to support him from wherever he contests," he said.

On the expansion plans of his newly-formed outfit, Shivpal said, "The first conference of the SSM, the expansion of which is already going on, will be held next month in Lucknow."

"We are moving ahead with our socialist agenda and working to strengthen our organisation," he added.

The founder of the SSM had earlier said he was ready to contest all the 80 parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh, except Mainpuri where Mulayam will be in the fray, in the 2019 polls.

Shivpal was unceremoniously removed from the post of SP state president after his nephew Akhilesh assumed charge as the party's national president.