Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is keen for a rapprochement with the left, after the recent rupture in the ties. Mulayam fell foul of the left, following his decision to back the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the center in the crucial motion of confidence in Parliament on July 22, 2008, after the left withdrew support to the government. Fighting a crucial battle to retain his political relevance, Mulayam is clearly jostling with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati to be on the right side with the left. However, he is upset that the left has rebuffed his overtures.
Excerpts from an interview:
Muslims are very upset with your alliance with Kalyan Singh, who has been the face of the agitation that resulted in the vandal act of demolition of Babri Masjid on Dec. 6, 1992. How do you defend your decision?
When Kalyan Singh’s son Rajvir Singh was a minister in my government, why was there no objection? Why is everyone raising the issue now? Kalyan Singh is a leader with mass base, next only to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Now, Kalyan Singh has set out with the sole agenda of defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What is more important now? Is it not the defeat of the BJP at the hustings? If Kalyan Singh proves helpful in that direction, what is the problem?
Don’t you think Kalyan Singh was the face of communal mobilization of the BJP?
No communal agenda will work now. People are more bothered about bread and butter issues. People want economic development. People will vote for education, employment and development. Temple and mosque are no longer the issues that interest them. People are yearning for progress and development.
How do you see your son Akhilesh Yadav shaping up as a politician?
One thing that impressed me most about Akhilesh, and which I will not mention before him, is that he is always in the village. He prefers to remain among the people, sit with people surrounding him, discussing with them and interacting with them. How many would spend their time like that in the midst of the people?
Do you fancy yourself as prime ministerial candidate?
I can only tell you this much that there will not be any government at the center without the SP having a role in it. The SP is strong and it will prove that it remains politically relevant in national politics.
What will be your stand on the next government formation?
SP is presently fighting the elections on its own in Uttar Pradesh. Presently, the focus is on retaining our tally and, if possible, to improve on it. After the elections, the party will meet to decide on the political line and, in consultations with our allies, we shall decide on the future course of action. It is all the numbers game. Much depends on the final numbers we get.
The Congress has declared Manmohan Singh as the prime ministerial face in the elections. The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate is L.K. Advani. Who is your prime ministerial candidate?
We do not have any prime ministerial candidate. We are fighting the elections. It is only after the results on May 16 that the SP and its allies will sit down to decide on the issue. After the elections, we shall talk to all the parties and all the leaders, including the left.
You have been close to the left for a long time. How do you feel now, when the left is backing your bete noire and BSP supremo Mayawati?
It is for the left to explain its position. The left has always insisted on probity and image. Now, how are they aligning with the Uttar Pradesh chief minister? We tried to reach out to the left. In fact, I asked SP General Secretary Amar Singh to meet Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat. But Karat refused to even meet Amar Singh.
