The Congress is jubilant over the growing proximity between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP, viewing this would certainly lead to a political realignment.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday praised BJP veteran L.K. Advani, who took out the “Rath Yatra” from Somnath to Ayodhya, for construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya in 90s.
His brother and Samajwadi Party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, a few days ago, had said that the former BJP-led NDA government was “more cohesive” and Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s style of functioning was better.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav had allied with the hero of the Ayodhya agitation Kalyan Singh in Uttar Pradesh.
The Samajwadi Party’s friendly gesture to the BJP is sending out a strong message to the minorities across the country and leaders of the third front, who once saw Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav as the PM material.
According to Congress insiders, the change in SP is a well-calculated strategy as Mulayam wants to keep the saffron party in good humour. His party might be backing the Manmohann Singh government from outside but he is keeping his doors open for the BJP for a post poll deal. Mr Mulayam Singh sees his prospects of becoming the PM is bright this time. And he can get the top post with the help of either the Congress or the BJP.
“If Mayawati became Uttar Pradesh chief minister on the BJP’s support then why can’t Mulayanm Singh seek the BJP’s help to become the PM in 2014,” sources asked.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Saturday steered clear of Mr Yadav’s praise of Mr Advani, close on the heels of another SP leader hailing Mr Vajpayee and terming the erstwhile NDA government as “more cohesive”(than the UPA).
“We do not want to say anything. It may be the thinking of their party and not that of Congress. Can anyone stop anyone from making any statement”? party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters.