'Stunned' SP seeks to make light of Mulayam's remark

A stunned Samajwadi Party (SP) on Wednesday sought to make light of its patron Mulayam Singh Yadav's remarks that he wanted to see Narendra Modi become the prime minister again after the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

''Netaji (Mulayam) is a father figure in Indian politics....it was the last day of the 16th Lok Sabha and his remarks should be seen in this light only...no political meaning should be construed from them,'' remarked a senior SP leader here.

''It is in line with our glorious tradition...we wish good luck to our opponents also,'' the leader told DH.

He said only a few months back Mulayam had predicted that Modi would not be able to win from Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, in the next LS polls.

SP sources, however, said that Mulayam's remarks could put the party in difficulty as the BJP might try to make it part of its election campaign.

Earlier also Mulayam had put his own party in a quandary by his bizarre remarks.

Inconsistent Netaji

Even during the tussle between his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and son and SP president Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam had made contradictory statements. He declared his support to Akhilesh one day and spoke against him another day.

''Mulayam, off late, has been inconsistent with his remarks,'' commented another SP leader.