Framework of Samajwadi Secular Morcha being worked out: Shivpal

The framework of the Samajwadi Secular Morcha is being worked out and a formal announcement in this regard will be made soon, senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav said on Tuesday.

Shivpal refused to comment on whether the SSM will eventually part ways with the Samajwadi Party or be an outfit operating within the SP.

"The framework of the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM) is being currently worked out and a formal announcement in this regard will be made at the appropriate and auspicious time," he told PTI.

Sources in the SSM said it will remain a part of the SP.

"It is a foregone conclusion," an SP leader said.

"The SSM is a forum of different like-minded political parties. The idea of morcha was approved as there are many like-minded political parties which are ready to extend their support to us to fight the communal forces," he said.

"The morcha will also prove its political utility in amalgamation of smaller parties in the future, unlike political parties," he said.

Senior socialist leader Raghunandan Singh 'Kaka', while commenting on the relevance of the morcha said, "The SSM will endeavour to bring all the socialist leaders from UP under one umbrella, so as to pose a stiff challenge to the communal forces."

"It will try to follow and imbibe the principles of Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Narendra Dev, Jai Prakash Narayan, Charan Singh and other socialist veterans," he said.

SSM sources said senior SP leaders Bhagwati Singh and Beni Prasad Verma (former Union minister) are also in touch with senior leaders of the morcha.

"Even some senior office bearers of front organisations of the SP are in touch with the SSM," another SSM leader said requesting anonymity.

On May 5, Shivpal had declared in Etawah that his brother Mulayam Singh Yadav will head a secular front to be formed by him.

"For social justice, Samajwadi Secular Morcha will be formed. Netaji (Mulayam) will be its national president," Shivpal had told reporters.

The warring uncle of Akhilesh made the announcement after a meeting with Mulayam at a relative's house. Shivpal held discussions on forming the new secular front.

He, however, did not explain what the new front would do- whether it would contest polls against the SP or strengthen it by bringing socialists under one roof.

Shivpal had been saying that he would soon launch a campaign to unite "samajwadis" (socialists) to bring them on a single platform.

"Akhilesh had promised to hand over the party to 'netaji' (Mulayam). He should do so now and we all will strengthen the SP. I had also given him three months' time. Otherwise, I will constitute a new secular front," Shivpal had said.

The SP had witnessed a bitter feud between Shivpal and nephew Akhilesh in the run up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Shivpal had earlier replaced Akhilesh as the state unit chief following which Akhilesh removed his uncle from the state cabinet.