The old rivals are not new ‘friends’

The move by Kalyan has sent ripples through political circles in UP,but what has come as a surprise to some observers is that the two established a similar pact in 2002. The strange bedfellows had then come together to help Mulayam come to power. At the time,Kalyan made similar statements — ruin the BJP — to explain his new equation with Mulayam.

There was a secret meeting between Kalyan and Mulayam in Lucknow in 2003,just before Mulayam was sworn in as Uttar Pradesh’s new chief minister. That was the time when Kalyan had been expelled from the BJP and he had launched a new outfit Rashtriya Kranti party (RKP).

At that time with speculation rife that Kalyan would join the SP,Kalyan let the guessing game going and refused to reveal what political path he planned to take. “It’s time to end old political relations and making new ones. Lekin waqt ke pehle koi kam nahin hota hai (But nothing happens before its time),” he stated. And later he had supported Mulayam. Kalyan’s son Rajvir and protege Kusum Rai were then inducted into Mulayam’s Cabinet.

Six years down the line,both Kalyan and Mulayam once again held a secret meeting — this time in Delhi — just before the Lok Sabha elections. They also attempted to qualify their new equation in non-political terms. Mulayam said,“It was no alliance but friendship with no condition,” while Kalyan gushed,“There was no understanding. I have responded to a call of my heart to forge a bond with Mulayam.” This affection,of course,has not been unwavering. It was during Kalyan’s rule in UP that the Babri Masjid was destroyed in 1992,leading to Mulayam blaming the senior leader for dragging the nation into a communal flashpoint. Mulayam also became the hate object of the Hindutva forces when he ordered the police to open fire on crowds in Ayodhya,who were there to conduct the shilanyas puja. But their feelings for each other mellowed. In 1999,Kalyan became the most sought after guest at the wedding of Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav. The friendship between the two is as old. Today Mulayam’s opinion about Kalyan has changed “I have held him morally responsible for the demolition,but I cannot abuse him like others”. After all,the leaders do have something in common. Mulayam and Kalyan belong to backward castes — Yadav and Lodh,respectively — and both worked as teachers once.