Things are not going to be smooth for SP as Congress has indicated it would not let Mulayam form the govt in UP very easily.
For the first time since the election process started in December-end, the gates of the Samajwadi Party (SP) state headquarters here are shut, reminding everyone of the times when the SP was in power in Uttar Pradesh. ‘Netaji’ (SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav) is inside, huddled with some senior party leaders. Earlier, the gates used to remain ajar all day. Also, whenever the SP chief came to the party office, he would accept greetings and interact with party workers and mediapersons. On Sunday, Mulayam did away with the pleasantries and the small talk, avoiding any interaction with the workers or the media.
“I will not say anything till March 6 (when the votes are to be counted),” was all he said before disappearing into the innards of his office. Outside, the mood is festive. Whether the SP is forming the government or not is not being discussed any more, for the exit polls have unanimously pegged the SP as the frontrunner with seats ranging from 140 to 210. Partymen agog with expectations of returning to power once again are frantically discussing who will be the CM - ‘Netaji’ or son Akhilesh.
Sanjay Kumar, a party worker from faraway Sonbhadra in eastern UP has come all the way after seeing the exit polls on TV channels. “I will go back after the swearing-in ceremony,” he says, reflecting the haughty aplomb of SP workers for whom power seems well within reach now.
SP general secretary and Mulayam’s younger brother Shivpal Yadav tries to scotch the speculation, saying: “Netaji is our universally accepted leader, and he would definitely be CM when we form the government.” Asked about where the SP would get the requisite support from, he says: “Where is the need for support? You just wait and see, we are getting 250 seats.” Haughty aplomb at its best once again.
However, perhaps, things are not going to be as easy as the SP men think. The Congress has given out all indications that it would not let it be a cakewalk for Mulayam. The CBI’s arrest of former BSP minister and NRHM scam kingpin Babu Singh Kushwaha on Saturday is a clear feeler to Mayawati. Kushwaha had been openly speaking out against Mayawati, accusing her of being a part of the scam. Besides, Mayawati’s huge transferable Dalit votebank always has always had the Congress drooling.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh has made it clear that he is not willing to support the SP. Union minister Beni Prasad Verma has gone a step further by openly advocating a coalition with the BSP. There are other former SP’ites like Raj Babbar, Rasheed Masood and UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi who would fight against a tie-up with the SP tooth and nail.
Congress insiders here say they foresee a spell of President’s Rule. Union Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal had already said it in so many words during the election. “The SP can form a government only if it gets 170 plus seats. I can bet on President’s Rule if they don’t get the numbers,” says a senior Congress leader, signaling tough times ahead for ‘Netaji’ if he doesn’t get it right this time.
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