Mulayam Singh Yadav (left) with brother Shivpal Yadav (File photo)

NEW DELHI: After months of infighting, compounded by a crushing electoral defeat in UP , the Samajwadi Party (SP) today split, as Shivpal Yadav announced the launch of a new party called the Samajwadi Secular Morcha, which will be headed by brother Mulayam Singh Yadav .

Mulayam is the one who founded the SP in 1992. Over the past year, there has been an ever-widening rift in the party with Mulayam's son and former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on one side and his father Mulayam and uncle Shivpal on the other.

"Neta ji ko unka sammaan vapas dilane, aur Samajawadion ko ek saath laane ke liye is morche ka jald hi ailaan hoga," Shivpal told ANI. ("To return the respect due to Netaji, and to bring the real samajwadis together, we will soon announce this front.") Mulayam is affectionately called 'Netaji.'

Shivpal made the announcement after a meeting with his brother-in-law Ajant Singh Yadav in his hometown Etawah. Mulayam Singh is yet to respond to his younger brother's declaration.

Earlier this week, Shivpal threatened to form a new secular front if Akhilesh did not hand over the reins of the party to his father Mulayam Singh. Akhilesh took over the SP a few months before the recent Assembly elections. The Samajwadi party contested the polls under his leadership but suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP.

After filing his nomination for the state polls in January, Shivpal had declared his intent to form a new party once the election results are declared.

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In Video: Samajwadi Party splits: Shivpal Yadav forms new party to be headed by Mulayam Singh