Amar Singh's return to SP hits roadblock

The reported thaw in the relationship between Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his former confidant Amar Singh notwithstanding, Singh’s return to his parent party may not be easy.

Mulayam Singh may be enthusiastic about Singh’s return but the SP supremo’s another trusted lieutenant and prominent Muslim leader in the party Azam Khan is reported to be opposed to any kind of patch up with his estranged colleague.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is also not very keen to have Singh back, sources within the SP said. “Amar Singh and Azam Khan never enjoyed good relations.  Even when Singh was in the SP, the duo used to take jibes at each other,” said a senior SP leader here. In fact Khan had left the SP only because of his differences with Singh, the leader pointed out.
“It is certain that Khan will leave again if Amar Singh makes a come back in the party,” he went on to add.

The leader also said that Mulayam would not like to annoy Khan, especially at a time when he desperately needs the support of Muslims to register a big win in the state in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

According to the SP leaders, Singh does not have the backing any prominent leader in the party. “Amar Singh never nurtured relations with party leaders at the grassroots level because of his proximity with the top leadership,” they asserted.

The report of Singh’s possible return started making rounds after the UP government withdrew the ongoing probe by the Economic Offences Wing against Singh in the disproportionate assets case and handed over it to the police besides withdrawing the money laundering case against him.