Homecoming: Kalyan takes on CM

The BJP high command today approved the proposed return of Kalyan Singh to the party. The deal in place, Singh took on CM Mulayam Singh Yada...

The BJP high command today approved the proposed return of Kalyan Singh to the party. The deal in place, Singh took on CM Mulayam Singh Yadav today on his statement that the BJP would be reduced to nine seats in the Lok Sabha in the coming polls.

‘‘There was no opposition in the party on the move to bring Singh back,’’ BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said after a meeting at the residence of PM A.B. Vajpayee. Mahajan clinched the deal with Singh at Lucknow two days ago.

Singh praised Vajpayee at Lucknow as he took on the CM, in a bid to undo the bitter personal criticism of the PM which marked his exit from the BJP. Singh had refused to give a public apology that party leaders insisted upon. RSS joint secretary Madan Das Devi (BJP), who, sources say worked behind the scenes to push the deal through, worked out the outlines.

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‘‘Koi party to Lok Sabha main nau seat par aayegi (Some party will come down to nine seats in the Lok Sabha). But those who think BJP will be reduced to that strength are mistaken,’’ said Singh, breaking the taut silence between him and the CM since the former shared a cup of tea with PM A.B. Vajpayee in Lucknow on December 24.

The former CM said the BJP’s line ‘‘Sab par bhari Atal Behari’’ would get support from the electorate. He also expressed willingness to share the platform with the PM who is scheduled to attend a function in Gonda on February 7. ‘‘I will surely go if invited,’’ he said.

Singh’s differences with Yadav have been growing and Thursday’s statement from the CM only made things worse. ‘‘The BJP, not the SP, is worried over the Kalyan Singh factor as the lotus party would be reduced to only nine LS seats in next general elections,’’ said Yadav. ‘‘He (Mulayam) is a senior politician and is also the CM and if he has said that a particular party would get only nine seats in LS polls, it is bound to be proved true. But BJP will not reach that stage,’’ Singh said. Singh said neither he nor the BJP had imposed any conditions on his joining the party. ‘‘Jo hona tha, woh ho chuka hai. Mere paas kehne ko kuch naya nahin hain (What had to happen has, I have nothing new to say).’’

(With inputs from Pradeep Kaushal)