Shivpal didn't speak to me before announcing secular front, says Mulayam

Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Saturday his brother Shivpal didn't speak to him before announcing the formation of an all-India secular front.

In an exclusive interview , Mulayam said he would talk to Shivpal and pacify him, and that no one in the family or party wanted a split in the 25-year-old Samajwadi Party.

"I have not met Shivpal for the last one week... He has not spoken to me as yet about it (the front). I will talk to him,"



a visibly relaxed Mulayam told HT in Lucknow.

"As for the front, he has simply given a statement. I will talk to him, pacify him."

The statement came a day after the 62-year-old Shivpal, former UP president of the party, announced that he will form within three months the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM) that will be led by Mulayam.

Shivpal didn't make it clear if he was walking out of the Samajwadi Party or if the new front will enter electoral politics.