Mulayam keeps rival SP camps guessing

Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav’s reported U-turn over the SP-Congress poll alliance has kept his younger brother Shivpal and son Akhilesh guessing. Mulayam’s remarks that he would campaign for the alliance nominees in Uttar Pradesh and was not opposed to Akhilesh has left Shivpal flummoxed. Shivpal, who had sided with Mulayam during the tussle with Akhilesh, had been banking on the party chief’s support to take on his nephew.

“There has been no contact between Shivpal and netaji in the past two days,” remarked a Shivpal supporter.  Party general secretary and Mulayam’s other younger brother Ram Gopal Yadav, who had thrown his weight around Akhilesh, welcomed Mulayam’s decision to campaign for the alliance. However, the Akhilesh camp remains sceptical. “Netaji has not been consistent in his stand either on the alliance or on Akhilesh’s anointment as the SP national chief,” a leader close to Akhilesh told DH.

Sources in the Akhilesh camp said senior leaders like Azam Khan had spoken to Mulayam following his call to party rebels to contest from the seats given to the Congress. “Netaji was advised not to make public his displeasure. It may cost the party dear in the polls,” the leader said. Akhilesh as well as other leaders in his camp  have Mulayam’s blessings.