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Sack Maya govt, win Mulayam’s support
The 70-year-old Samajwadi Party (SP) president, Mulayam Singh Yadav, made it clear that he would extend support to the new government in New Delhi only on the condition that it dismisses the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh.
The Mulayam-Mayawati spat renews itself every time Uttar Pradesh talks politics. The 70-year-old Samajwadi Party (SP) president, Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Wednesday made it clear that he would extend support to the new government in New Delhi only on the condition that it dismisses the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing a series of election rallies in Gola and Shahjehanpur on Wednesday, which will vote on May 13, Yadav said that the SP's support is going to be crucial in the formation of the next government at the Centre and also made it clear that the party was not interested in seeking any posts in the PM's cabinet. His only condition is "dismissal of the BSP government," Yadav told his supporters gathered in Gola and Shahjehanpur. Yadav first mentioned about the condition of dismissal of Maya government at a rally in Mirzapur couple of weeks ago.
Given Yadav's history of differences with Maywati and his current mood, SP may try to patch up with either of the two alliances, political analysts said. But senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra made it clear that Mulayam is unacceptable to the BJP because of his newfound friendship with Kalyan Singh, an accused in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman Subodh Srivastav assessed Mulayam's demand realistically and said it would be "impossible" to dismiss Mayawati unless there's large-scale defection and she loses majority. Laying stress on Congress' good relationship with Yadav, he said, "The fourth front (the alliance of Lalu Prasad's RJD, Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP and Samajwadi) will come under the UPA umbrella."
While in Mainpuri, Yadav had projected Sharad Pawar as the fourth front's prime ministerial candidate, on Wednesday he said support to the UPA, and particularly Manmohan Singh (76), would be decided after the election.
