Despite clear indications that former CM Kalyan Singh is likely to join the BJP, the Congress and UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today made a fresh bid to keep him away from the lotus party.While Mulayam claimed Kalyan was with the coalition led by Samajwadi Party in UP, a four-member Congress delegation led by party state incharge Virendra Singh met him last night.Having said earlier that his government won’t be affected if Kalyan returned to the BJP, Mulayam said: ‘‘Kalyan Singh is with us.’’ Though neither Kalyan nor the Congress leaders disclosed what transpired during the meeting, it has raised eyebrows among the state’s leaders. ‘‘Virendra has an old association with Kalyan and we went to his residence for a courtesy call,’’ claimed a Congress leader. On his part, the former CM confirmed yesterday’s meeting, but refused to divulge information. ‘‘I am against political untouchability and the leaders should continue meeting each other despite their differences,’’ he said.Though the dust on Kalyan’s return appears to have settled, Mulayam’s mellowing down on the issue and the meeting between Congress leaders and Kalyan has again set the state’s political grapevine crackling.BJP sources said though the party’s top brass has decided to take Kalyan back, there are many ifs and buts on his protege and PWD Minister Kusum Rai returning.
