SP's foundation day event lays foundation for 'grand alliance'

Sanjay Bhatnagar
Published on: 5 Nov 2016 10:56 AM GMT
SPs foundation day event lays foundation for grand alliance
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SP's foundation day event lays foundation for 'grand alliance'

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party silver jubilee function which was addressed by a galaxy of leaders from different parties ended with a call to non-BJP parties to forge a 'grand alliance' to defeat the "communal forces" which are dividing the country and slowing down the rate of progress in different fields.

Every speaker at the meeting appeared to be in favour of the proposal. Most of the leaders wanted the party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav to take initiative to unite Non-BJP parties ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Most vocal on the alliance issue was former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav who promised to address more than 100 election rallies in the state.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, however, did not say it in so many words but repeatedly said during his address that he had invited seniors to take their advices on the line which should be followed. Instead of going public , he chose to hold closed door meetings with the senior leaders before and after the function.

The leaders who attended the function were in favour of formation of the alliance before the assembly elections early next year. It was because a defeat of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh will weaken the party and the divisive forces. A beginning has been already made as Mulayam has talked to some of these leaders including Ajit Singh, president of Rashtriya Lok Dal who wields considerable influence in some parts of the western region.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who was preoccupied could not come but a senior leader of his Janta Dal (U) party was very much present. Critical of some of the actions including killing of SIMI activists and move to ban triple talaq, Yadav felt that the unity among the non-BJP parties was the need of the power. Similar was the sentiment of most other speakers.

Janta Dal (S) leader H D Devegowda was one of the persons who asked Mulayam to take initiatives to unite secular forces. He even asked him to bring all the regional parties under one roof and lead it for the betterment of country. According to him, Uttar Pradesh is the gate-way to Delhi and a set-back to the BJP in this state will break the back-bone of the party.

President of the Rashtriya Janta Dal, Ajit Singh, who has already expressed himself in favour of alliance said sooner it was formed better it is for the state and the country.The party had backed Samajwadi Party candidates in the recent biennial elections in the state.

Shivpal Singh Yadav, the senior SP leader and brother of Mulayam was at his emotional best. He said " I have been insulted on many occasions but I have forgotten every thing and forgiven all those who hurt me". He reiterated that if the party comes to power the present chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will lead the state again. Shivpal claimed the party will get majority once again next year.

Akhilesh was modest and gave all the credits for success during the last assembly election to party workers and senior leaders. He denied that there was a rift in the party and said the entire Yadav family and the party is one and that the developmental schemes launched by him will pay dividend.

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At the end ,party supremo Mulayam thanked leaders of different parties for coming to the function and asked party men to do no injustice and to see that it was not done by any one else. He paid tributes to army jawans who have laid down their lives and praised those who are valiantly fighting the terrorists coming from across the border.

Sanjay Bhatnagar

Sanjay Bhatnagar

Writer is a bi-lingual journalist with experience of about three decades in print media before switching over to digital media. He is a political commentator and covered many political events in India and abroad.

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