Supporting Congress a blunder: Mulayam Singh Yadav

It may be just a matter of time before Samajwadi Party (SP) snaps off all ties with the Congress.

Not only has the party announced a campaign against the central government in every village of Uttar Pradesh, its chief Mulayam Singh Yadav admitted in parliament that the decision to support the Congress was a “blunder”.

“Our decision to support you (Congress) last year was a blunder,” Yadav said while concluding his Lok Sabha speech on demands for grants for the home ministry. “Those who have supported the Congress government have already been betrayed by the Congress,” he said.

“We supported your government, when the Left parties withdrew their support last year. Now, you are enjoying the support of the same people who joined the Left parties to push you out. This cannot happen,” he said.

Party sources said a resurgent Congress in UP has upset the SP’s plans. A shift in Muslim vote to the Congress has also made the party insecure. “We expected to be part of the government at the Centre, but that did not happen. In the state, the Congress is usurping our space. Therefore, we will campaign against the unsound policies of the Centre in each and every village in UP,” a senior SP leader said.