The Samajwadi Party (SP) gave a jolt to its archrival and the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) by inducting one of its MLAs--Fareed Mahfooz Kidwai into the party. The party said that more BSP MLAs are ‘in queue’ for induction into the SP.
Kidwai, the MLA from Masauli seat in Barabanki said: “I would soon quit the Assembly membership.” The party’s national president Mulayam Singh Yadav and the senior party leader Azam Khan were present at Kidwai’s entry into the party.
Kidwai is a SP old-timer and had been SP MLA twice before he crossed over the BSP. “I have been entreating Mulayam Singh Yadav for last one year to re-induct me into the party.”
The MLA said he would like to remain silent on the reasons that made him quit the SP then and was glad to re-enter it. Circumstances are different now.
Mulayam said to Kidwai: "This is our phase of struggle and you have joined at an appropriate time. In future if you have any complains and grudge, make it a point to talk to us. Now you are in the SP forever."
When newspersons asked Kidwai that was he not into politics of party hopping?, Azam Khan replied instead. Khan said: “This is not politics of party hopping. It is politics. The politics demanded him to quit BSP and return to where his roots and foundations are.”
{{/usCountry}}When newspersons asked Kidwai that was he not into politics of party hopping?, Azam Khan replied instead. Khan said: “This is not politics of party hopping. It is politics. The politics demanded him to quit BSP and return to where his roots and foundations are.”
{{/usCountry}}Azam Khan, who had not been quite visible in the party affairs since his own re-induction into the party, was in his elements. He did most of the talking—be it announcing Kidwai’s re-entry, or replying questions thrown at Mulayam or Kidwai.
He told Kidwai: “It is creditable and a matter of courage that you have quit the ruling party while your term as an MLA is still a year away from expiry.” When Kidwai in reply to a question said that he would quit his Legislature membership, Azam Khan promptly cut him short and said: “He could also be dismissed (by BSP).”
Azam said: “May be more people could come from BSP to SP.”