What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
LUCKNOW: The cracks in the Opposition unity in UP came wide open on Saturday, with Samajwadi Party telling its coalition partners OP Rajbhar and Shivpal Yadav that they are free to join the side that gives them “more respect”.
In separate letters to Rajbhar and Shivpal, the Akhilesh Yadav-led party said, “If you feel that you will get more respect somewhere else, then you are free to do so.”
The letter comes a day after Rajbhar, who heads the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) was provided with ‘Y’ category security by the Yogi Adityanath government.
SBSP, which was a partner in the first Yogi government, contested the last Assembly polls in coalition with the SP but has snubbed the Opposition party in the recent past.
Going against the coalition’s decision, Rajbhar extended support to NDA’s Draupadi Murmu in the recently-concluded presidential election.
Shivpal Yadav, who floated his Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party after losing to his nephew Akhilesh in the SP takeover bid, criticized the SP chief for supporting joint Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha, saying that he once called SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav “an ISI agent”.
Shivpal has also announced to contest the upcoming civic body polls independently.
“Rajbhar Ji, the Samajwadi Party has been fighting against the BJP. But you have an alliance with the BJP and you are working to strengthen the ruling party. So, if you feel that you will get more respect somewhere else, then you are free to do so,” reads the SP letter to the SBSP chief.
SP’s alliance with Rajbhar’s proved to be beneficial for the main opposition party as it put up a good showing in several districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, where the ruling party was unable to win a majority of seats.
Shivpal Singh Yadav was also said to be unhappy over the seat sharing in the assembly elections held this year.
