JOIN USA `lone warrior' in the electoral ruins of his party, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, has no idea as to how to take on prime minister-designate Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha.
Mulayam, whose party managed to win only five seats in UP in the recent Lok Sabha polls, will have only his family members, accompanying him in the house. These include his daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav and his two nephews - Akshoy, a first-timer, and Dharmendra.
“How will I take on Modi....there is no one to speak with me in the House,” Mulayam reportedly remarked at a review meeting of the party here on Friday.
SP leaders said that the party supremo, who appeared to be very upset with the performance of the party in the polls, made the remarks in the presence of Akhilesh Yadav.
“Akshoy is a novice and Dimple cannot speak,” he remarked.
Mulayam was also critical of the functioning of the Akhilesh-led government which, he felt, was the main reason behind the party's debacle. Mulayam, who had won from two seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls, is expected to vacate the Mainpuri seat and retain Azamgarh.
Although no formal announcement has been made in this regard, senior SP leaders here said Mulayam has made it clear that he wants to retain the Azamgarh seat and vacate Mainpuri, considered to be his pocket borough.
SP sources said that Mulayam's nephew Tej Pratap Yadav is likely to be nominated as the party candidate from the seat to be vacated by Mulayam. “Azamgarh may prove to be a difficult seat for Tej Pratap while Mainpuri will be safer,” said an SP leader.
Earlier, there were reports that Mulayam could vacate the Azamgarh seat and opt for Mainpuri but the decision was shelved after the dismal performance of the party. The SP was able to win only five seats, including two by Mulayam. “The party will not like to lose another seat,'' the SP leader said.