Murmurs of dissent in Samajwadi Party over ties with BSP

Lucknow: Murmurs of dissent have started becoming louder in the Samajwadi Party after its president announced that he was ready to play a junior partner in the alliance with the BSP.

The Mulayam loyalists, in particular, are upset at the manner in which the party is bending backwards to pamper the BSP.

Though the dissent, at present, is restricted to the senior leaders, it could grow bigger when actual seat sharing takes place.

Senior SP leader and one of its founder members, Dr C.P. Rai told reporters that in his quest for power, SP president Akhilesh Yadav was destroying the socialist movement.

Dr Rai is a Mulayam loyalist and has not found any significant place in the Samajwadi Party led by Mr Akhilesh Yadav.

 “Those who believe in socialism will never accept such a decision. By going down on his knees before the BSP, Akhilesh Yadav is insulting thousands of those party workers who have toiled to take the party to its present position. He is also insulting his father Mulayam Singh Yadav”, he said.

He alleged that instead of strengthening the party and accepting the advice of senior party leaders, Mr Akhilesh Yadav was looking for crutches to regain power.

“He does not listen to his father, his uncle, senior leaders and not even party workers. With his decisions, he is insulting all those who are a part of the socialist movement”, Dr Rai said.

Replying to a question, Dr Rai said that though it was a season of political coalitions, the Samajwadi Party must first strengthen itself and then forge an alliance with parties that are equally strong. Such an alliance will be on equal terms and also respectable, he added.

Dr Rai, who has also been an associate of late Raj Narain, said that he had nothing to lose and would continue to fight against the conspiracy to destroy the Samajwadi Party.

He also indicated that several other senior leaders were upset with the decision and would speak out, sooner than later.

“When the Samajwadi Party begins to give out seats to Mayawati-led BSP, that is the time when leaders will start speaking up against the alliance”, he added.