Mulayam Singh Yadav says not launching new party

Shivpal’s absence from the press conference indicated that he was not happy with what Mulayam had finally decided to announce at the press conference, which had been eagerly-awaited by Shivpal’s supporters, some of whom raised slogans outside the office of Ram Manohar Lohia Trust, the venue of Mulayam’s interaction with the reporters, on Monday morning.

Mulayam said Shivpal had gone to Etawah and Mainpuri for “some important work”.

Mulayam criticised the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state and stressed that there is a need for all socialists to unite. “There is a need for socialists to unite. I appeal that those who belong to the socialist ideology should join us and the Samajwadi Party,” he said.

In response to a question that Akhilesh had recently said that he has Mulayam’s blessings, the Azamgarh MP said: “Putra hain toh ashirwad to hai, lekin unke jo nirnay hain unse hum sehmat nahi hain (He is my son so he has my blessings. But I am not in agreement with his decisions).” He declined to state which decisions of Akhilesh were not acceptable to him.

To a question that Akhilesh had promised to hand back the reins of the party to him after assembly elections, Mulayam said: “Now leave it. He had
said that he will take control of the party for only three months and then give it back. A person who cannot keep his word will never succeed. What
the tallest leader of this country had said about this has also been heard by you.”

He later referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement saying, “jo apne baap ka nahi hua, wo kisi ka nahi ho sakta (someone who is not faithful to his father cannot be faithful to anyone else)”.

He also said he will not be going to the party’s national convention in Agra on October 5. In response to another question, he said, “I am with the SP and I am in the SP.”

Then he said Akhilesh Yadav “has himself left the party in a way”, but did not elaborate on his comment. To a question whether there still remains a possibility of reconciliation between the father and son, Mulayam said: “Differences keep occurring between father and son. What can I say on this?”