Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya in Uttar Pradesh government has expressed the possibility of breakup of Samajwadi Party.
Trinamool Congress is disintegrated in Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly. Amid discussions about the breakup of the already broken Shiv Sena-Uddhav faction, Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya and Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar in the Uttar Pradesh government have expressed the possibility of the breakup of the Samajwadi Party. Keshav Maurya has even claimed that almost two-thirds of the members of the third largest party in the Lok Sabha will break away. How much truth is there in this information and how much is a hoax remains to be seen.
Let us understand with this excuse that when and how the Samajwadi Party was formed? When did it break or did people leave it? When were there controversies in the party? How many MPs and MLAs does the party have at present?
When was Samajwadi Party formed?
Samajwadi Party i.e. SP was established on 4 October 1992. Its founder was Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mulayam Singh Yadav was a big leader of Uttar Pradesh politics. He was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh three times. He was also the Defense Minister of the country. SP was born after the disintegration of Janata Dal. At that time, there was a period of Mandal politics, backward class politics and Ram Mandir movement in the country.
The politics of Uttar Pradesh was changing rapidly. Mulayam Singh Yadav chose a different political path during this period. He made socialism, secularism and social justice the basis of the party and moved forward by choosing a new path.
SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.
How was SP formed?
SP was not the name of any suddenly formed party. Its roots were in the socialist movement. The impact of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s politics was clearly visible on this party. Mulayam Singh Yadav himself was influenced by Lohia’s ideology. Many factions were forming in Janata Dal. The party was becoming weak at the national level. In such a situation, Mulayam Singh Yadav formed a separate party with his supporters. This party emerged rapidly especially in Uttar Pradesh. The party made farmers, backward classes, labourers, youth and minorities its main base. SP’s election symbol is bicycle. This symbol is considered a symbol of common man, hard work and simplicity.
Early stages and first major rise
After the formation of SP, it soon became strong in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. In 1993, SP formed an alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party. At that time the slogan was raised, Mulayam-Kanshi Ram met, Jai Shri Ram flew in the air. This alliance prevented BJP from power. Mulayam Singh Yadav became the Chief Minister. But this alliance did not last long. In 1995, relations between SP and BSP broke down. It was during this period that the famous guest house incident of Lucknow took place. This is considered to be the biggest controversy in the history of SP. After this, SP and BSP became staunch opponents for a long time.
Azam Khan.
When did people separate from SP?
Many big leaders separated in SP. Some of them also returned later. Raj Babbar was a big face of SP. Later he separated from the party and joined Congress. Beni Prasad Verma was also an old associate of Mulayam Singh Yadav. He also left SP and joined Congress. Became a minister at the Centre. Later he again came close to SP. Azam Khan became angry with the party in 2009. The main reason for their displeasure was said to be SP’s closeness to Kalyan Singh. Later Azam Khan again returned to SP. Amar Singh was also counted among the influential leaders of SP. He was close to Mulayam Singh, but he was expelled from the party in 2010. Jaya Prada also separated from SP during the same period. Later Amar Singh returned to the party, but the situation was not like the old one.
Shivpal Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav.
Then the biggest split took place in SP
The biggest breakdown in SP was seen in 2016-17. This breakdown was within the family. On one side was Akhilesh Yadav. On the other hand, there was the old organization of Shivpal Singh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav. There was a big dispute regarding ticket distribution and leadership. The matter reached the Election Commission. In the end, Akhilesh Yadav group got the cycle election symbol. Akhilesh Yadav became the national president of the party. Real uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav later formed a separate party. His name was Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia. However, after 2022, Shivpal again joined SP. In the year 2024, Swami Prasad Maurya also left SP. He chose his own political path. Even in the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, cross voting of some SP MLAs showed dissatisfaction within the party.
When did major controversies occur in SP?
- The first major controversy of SP was the guest house scandal of 1995. This spoiled SP-BSP relations for a long time.
- The second controversy happened around 2009. Azam Khan was angry over SP’s closeness to Kalyan Singh. This raised questions about the Muslim vote bank.
- The third controversy was regarding Amar Singh. He was accused of having too much influence in the party. Many old socialist leaders were uncomfortable with this.
- The fourth controversy occurred during the Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013. At that time there was Akhilesh Yadav’s government in Uttar Pradesh. The opposition raised questions on law and order.
- The fifth and biggest internal dispute was the family dispute of 2016-17. This divided the party into two parts. Akhilesh Yadav took control of the organization. The role of Mulayam Singh Yadav was reduced.
- Cross voting also became a big controversy in the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections. This raised questions on party discipline.
How many MPs does SP have now?
SP performed well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The party won 37 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. With this, SP became the third largest party in the country in the Lok Sabha. At present SP has four members in Rajya Sabha.
Samajwadi Party had won 37 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
How many MLAs does SP have now?
SP had won 111 seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Later the numbers changed due to by-elections, disqualification, resignations, deaths and defection. According to the latest public lists available, SP has about 102 MLAs in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. SP also has two MLAs in Maharashtra Assembly.
#WATCH | Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya says, “2526 MPs of the Samajwadi Party are ready to break away, but we are not breaking away at all. We know that they will themselves break away from the party…”
(17.06) pic.twitter.com/82ZDq9TQmn
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 17, 2026
What is the current situation of SP?
Today the leadership of SP is in the hands of Akhilesh Yadav. Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away in 2022. After that the party completely came under the leadership of the new generation. 2024 Lok Sabha elections gave new strength to SP. The party gave a big challenge to BJP in Uttar Pradesh. SP now presents itself as a party of backward people, Dalits, minorities, farmers and youth. The party emphasizes on PDA i.e. Backward, Dalit and Minority formula.
Samajwadi Party was formed in 1992. Its basis was socialism and social justice. The party saw many ups and downs. Sometimes SP-BSP alliance was formed. Then he broke down. Many big leaders left the party. There was conflict in the family also. Still, SP remains the biggest opposition force in Uttar Pradesh. Today SP is moving ahead under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav. The national stature of the party has increased after the year 2024. The real test of SP will again be in Uttar Pradesh in the 2027 assembly elections.
Also read: How many times did Shiv Sena break? From Bal Thackeray to Uddhav, the story of party disintegration
