SP criticises Congress, but holds cards close to its chest

The Samajwadi Party played the “wait and watch” game on Wednesday-- putting off the meeting of its parliamentary board, which was planned for Thursday, to decide whether or not to support the UPA coalition in the wake of the “reforms push”, Srinand Jha reports.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) played the “wait and watch” game on Wednesday — putting off the meeting of its parliamentary board, which was planned for Thursday, to decide whether or not to support the UPA coalition in the wake of the “reforms push”.

HT Image

Even as party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav struck a belligerent note against Congress policies that “burden the common man and the farmers”, the party gave out conflicting signals on its future course of action.

On the morning of the eight-party Bharat Bandh on Thursday, the SP chief will leave for Lucknow to “lead the demonstrations at the state capital”.

Speaking to reporters in the morning, the SP chief went ballistic against the Congress, asking: “What has the UPA government given, except for corruption and inflation?”

The party, however, continued to blow hot and cold on the issue.

Earlier in the day, Yadav told reporters that the party's parliamentary board would meet the next morning to decide on the future course of action. Hours later, senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said there “were no plans whatsoever to convene the meeting”.

The cancellation is said to be linked to its arch-rival BSP's silence over its future course of action.

“The SP is likely to delay taking a position on the matter, possibly until October 10, when Mayawati may clarify her position,” an SP source said.