New year, new party for Kalyan Singh

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh would not be joining the BJP after all. The BJP rebel and one-time “Ayodhya hero” of the saffron brigade seems to have made up his mind.

Sources close to him say Babuji, as he is fondly known among supporters, would be following the Uma Bharti formula of rightist politics — not to join the BJP but support its Hindutva agenda from the outside. Kalyan has already begun preparations to form a new political outfit, and sources say the declaration could be made on January 5, his birthday.
“My supporters are unanimous that I should not join the BJP,” Singh told reporters at his residence in an informal chat. “For years, they have done as I have told them. Now, I am willing to do what they want me to… they are my committed workers, I have to honour their advice,” he said.

In a deviation from his haughty style of functioning, Kalyan had called a large number of supporters and close associates to seek their counsel on the future course of action.
The supporters are convinced that Kalyan can do well only as a leader not as a follower. “Babuji is a smart politician, but he is a hard-headed person,” said a leader close to Kalyan. “He takes his own decisions and can only be his own leader,” said another.

Whatever Kalyan has been doing or saying over the past few days gives clear indications that he does not wish to play the Hindutva mascot. For one, he cancelled his visit to Ayodhya on December 6. Also, questions about the Ram Temple now get a stock reply from him: “Political parties have been and are using it for electoral benefits.”