National
Another Samajwadi MP expelled
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, DEC. 8. Dissidence brewing in the Samajwadi Party (SP) resurfaced today with yet another MP, Mr. Bhalchander Yadav, who represents Khalilabad, criticising the manner in which affairs of the party was being run, and the hold of the general secretary, Mr. Amar Singh over the party. (According to PTI, the Samajwadi Party tonight expelled Mr. Bhalchander Yadav for his criticism of Mr. Singh).
In a letter to the SP chief, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mr. Bhalchander Yadav said the party's image as a representative of the weaker sections had suffered. Party workers were feeling helpless and the general impression gaining ground was that the party was being run by those close to film stars and industrialists.
The letter comes close on the heels of a similar letter by the party's Mainpuri MP, Mr. Balram Singh Yadav, last month. With the expulsion of the Azamgarh MP, Mr. Ramakant Yadav, and now with Mr. Bhalchander Yadav raising the flag of rebellion, the SP has distanced itself from the two Yadav MPs in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Mr. Ramakant Yadav and Mr. Balram Singh Yadav, have now gravitated towards the Janata Dal (United) and it is understood that Mr. Bhalchander Yadav too is heading in that direction.
Reports said Mr. Bhalchander Yadav was present at a meeting at Lucknow today which was attended by the JD(U) president, Mr. Sharad Yadav, its general secretary, Mr. K.C. Tyagi, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh. The JD(U) leaders then proceeded to Jaunpur to attend a `Vikas rally' which the party has been organising in various parts of Uttar Pradesh under a strategy to dare the SP in its own den.
Mr. Bhalchander Yadav said even district and block level workers were ``raising questions about Mr. Amar Singh's past''. There was also talk of growing nepotism in the party and Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav's own conduct. While the party's elected representatives were being denied due weightage, ``broker-type of people' were distributing party tickets.
Taking a cue from the current controversy over the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO), the MP told the SP chief: ``These days you are opposing POTO while in reality you have applied POTO within the party''.
He said unless ``broker-type'' of people were removed from the party and persons with ``pro-poor image'' promoted, the SP may not be able to even repeat its performance in the last Assembly elections.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
National
|
