‘Outsider’ Mulayam inches closer to BJP

In this season of frenetic moves for political alliances, the Samajwadi Party seems to be in a state of suspended animation. Party president...

In this season of frenetic moves for political alliances, the Samajwadi Party seems to be in a state of suspended animation. Party president and CM Mulayam Singh Yadav’s meeting with the PM and Deputy PM today, and with Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday, has set off speculation about his political motives yet again.

Though Mulayam met the NDA leaders with a list of demands for the development of the state, it could be a bargaining point for the BJP, especially if the Centre accepts the requests, say sources. After all, Mulayam has said he will not be part of a secular front but will extend issue-based support if it comes to power.

His refusal is being interpreted as an attempt to keep his options open for a possible post-poll tie-up with the NDA. Says a source, ‘‘He has laid the ground by first saying he has no problem with the BJP if it sets aside the three contentious issues, which it has done in the NDA. By talking of outside support, he is tempted by a similar alliance the TDP has with the NDA — where it is an ally without the taint of being part of the BJP. That way he keeps the Muslim votebank intact.’’

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Mulayam is pinning hopes on winning a majority of seats from UP, and, in such an eventuality, would like to play king-maker or be king himself. But it does not seem to be a cakewalk for the SP — his coalition is under threat as one of its chief architects, the RKD’s Kalyan Singh, is being wooed by the BJP and Congress. His pet hate, Mayawati, is also being wooed by the Congress, and a Congress-BSP-RKD, or even without the RKD, is a formidable combination for Mulayam.

Mulayam will also have to dispel the impression gaining ground that he is in power in UP with the tacit cooperation of the BJP, which could be detrimental in keeping the Muslims on his side.