Discord re-emerges within Samajwadi Party

New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party, over the past 24 hours, has unfolded a new chapter in its history of drama and infighting, diluting all efforts over the past few months to create a picture of unity. Samajwadi patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, at the birthday function of his colleague Bhagwati Singh, said: “No one respects me now. Maybe they will honour me after I am no more. Aaj hamara koi samman nahin karta. Lohia used to say that in this country, people honour you only after you are gone”.

He recalled how senior leaders like Bhagwati Singh had helped him push forward the idea of socialism and strengthen the party. “The young leaders of today should take lessons in simplicity from their seniors and take the party forward with values that are the core of our party”, he said. Mr Yadav was obviously referring to his son Akhilesh Yadav, who now heads the Samajwadi Party. The senior Yadav has been completely sidelined within the party and his role as a patriarch is also non-existent.

Hours after Mulayam expressed his feelings, his younger brother Shivpal Yadav also echoed similar sentiments, and said: “I have been waiting for the past year and a half to get a respectable position in the party and I can only say that I am still waiting”. His statement comes in the wake of reports that he is preparing to float his own outfit.