Dreaming of Third Front, SP may reach out to Mamata

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who hopes to play a crucial role post 2014 Lok Sabha elections, may soon make an effort to “bury the hatchet” and forge relations with Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The SP will be holding its two-day national executive meeting from Wednesday in Kolkata, during which Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav who is also the State president of the SP, is likely to meet the TMC leader and expected to bury the differences between the two parties that cropped up during the presidential poll. The TMC had accused the SP of betraying the camp by not supporting A P J Abdul Kalam for the presidential election then.

“There is every possible chance of a meeting between the Uttar Pradesh chief minister and his counterpart in West Bengal,” said SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary here without divulging much into the matter.

The grapevine has it that it could be a good opportunity for Mulayam, who is keen on reviving the “Third Front” to take along the TMC which has been in a bitter relationship with the Congress in the UPA government.

Though Mulayam will also take part in the executive meeting, he may not accompany Akhilesh, sources said. The SP supremo wanted to “bury the past” and “open a channel” with the fiery TMC chief.  “Mulayam knows very well that Mamata may win a significant number of seats in West Bengal in the next Lok Sabha elections and that she may not necessarily support the Congress given her past experience,” a senior SP leader told Deccan Herald.

The executive meet was to be held in July, but was postponed after differences cropped up between Mamata and Mulayam over the presidential nominee.

The SP leader said that Mulayam hopes to win around 50-60 seats from Uttar Pradesh.

“If he succeeds in reaching the figure, he may well become the king maker. In case  the United Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance fall short of a majority, a third front may finally emerge,” he asserted.

Mulayam, according to sources, hopes that the regional satraps like the TMC, Telugu Desam Party, AIADMK, Janata Dal(United), Biju Janata Dal will come together and form a government at the Centre if they get the required numbers.