Ours is a democratic party, says Mulayam

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh downplayed Amar Singh's remarks blaming his "overconfidence" for the party's defeat in the Firozabad Lok Sabha by-poll, saying it was a proof of democratic functioning of the party.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh on Monday downplayed Amar Singh's remarks blaming his "overconfidence" for the party's defeat in the Firozabad Lok Sabha by-poll, saying it was a proof of democratic functioning of the party.

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"It (Amar's statement) proves that Samajwadi Party is not an autocratic party but a democratic one," Mulayam told reporters outside Parliament.

SP General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh had, in a interview, said that Samajwadi Party lost the recent by-elections in UP due to the overconfident attitude of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Amar Singh also said that he was always made a scapegoat for party's defeat.

"Ours is a democratic set up. One is free to express his or her opinion in our party. I am happy that he has expressed his opinion," Mulayam said.

However, taking a different stand, party MP Ram Gopal Verma said Amar Singh should speak within a certain limit.

"Whatever he speaks, if it is within a limit, then it would be tolerated. Otherwise it will be a problem," Verma said.

Reacting to Amar's statement, actress and party MP Jaya Bachchan said, "There is a complete democracy in the party."