Election 2019: "Unlike Fake Narendra Modi, Mulayam Singh Real Backward Leader": Mayawati

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Apr 19, 2019: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati was flanked by Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav today at a joint rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri, in a first-in-decades reunion loaded with political messaging in the middle of the national election, in which opposition parties are trying to stop the BJP from retaining power.

 

With more than two decades of animosity behind them, Mulayam Singh and Mayawati were all smiles. Mulayam Singh was seen introducing her to workers and asking them to touch her feet. "We welcome Mayawati ji, I have always respected Mayawatiji," Mulayam Singh told a seat of crimson Samajwadi caps that roared its approval.

The spectacle of the bitter enemies sharing the stage is really the essence of the opposition gathbandhan (alliance) in Uttar Pradesh to take on the BJP in the national election.

Mulayam Singh, the father of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, is contesting the election from Mainpuri, a family stronghold. It is a safe seat for the Samajwadi patriarch, so getting Mayawati to address a rally here is high on optics.

The effort from both parties is to showcase their friendship and ensure the smooth transfer of votes wherever the gathbandhan has fielded joint candidates.

Mulayam Singh and Mayawati fell out after their ruling coalition in UP crashed in 1995, two years after they came together along with smaller parties to keep the BJP out of power. In what is widely known as the "guest house incident", Samajwadi Party workers attacked a state guest house where the BSP chief was camping with her supporters. The provocation was Mayawati’s decision to pull out and join hands with the BJP.

After Akhilesh Yadav took over as Samajwadi Chief, he reached out to Mayawati - the pair is now popular as the bua-babua (aunt-nephew) - and attempted a do over. Last year, the two parties successfully collaborated to win by-polls in BJP strongholds like Kairana, Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

But such acrimonious history is not easy to set aside. Mulayam Singh had cited health issues to skip three joint rallies held earlier in Deoband, Badaun and Agra.

As recent as in February, Mulayam Singh had, in a party meet, openly criticized his son’s decision to tie up with Mayawati. "Who is finishing the party? Our own party people. It was such a strong party. We formed government on our own three times. All three times I was chief minister, I was also defense minister," Mulayam Singh, 79, questioning why his son ceded "half" the seats in Uttar Pradesh to Mayawati’s party.

The BJP often refers to the 1995 guest house incident to diss the tie-up as impractical and opportunistic.


Mulayam Singh had surprised many earlier this year when he controversially wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi a second term. While his comments was received with loud cheers and desk-thumping by members of the ruling BJP - including a chuckling PM Modi -- it left those in his party scrambling for excuses.