Amar effect: Mulayam-Ajit may talk about alliance

Lucknow: Politics makes a strange bed-fellow. Yesterday’s enemy becomes friend and vice-versa. This seems to be true when considered in the light of the current talks in the political circles. Discussions in their drawing rooms at the moment centre round a new development – a likely meeting between Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh in a couple of days.

There are several reasons for the possibility of two joining hands. Mulayam’s position has weakened in the western belt particularly after the Muzaffarngar incident. Secondly, Ajit might go back to the BJP or back some other party. Nitish-Lalu combine also eying him has also to be factored in. Coming assembly election in the state is crucial for Mulayam and , therefore,he would not like to leave any stone unturned.

The two leaders hated to love each other since Mulayam became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh with support of the Congress party. Ajit hoped to hold the coveted post, but, due to second thoughts by the Congress, it was dashed to the ground. The reasons could be his late father. Whatever the grievance may be the fact remains that they could not see eye to eye since then.

The possibility of the two leaders meeting now, therefore, looks rather unusual. Though it is not easy for all of them to believe it but those who are in know of things vouchsafe that it is going to happen. It is believed that former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh who has been chosen by the party to contest July Rajya Sabha election is the man behind this move.

He has been very close to Mulayam but for some reason he had fallen out of his grace. After a long gap he is likely to return to the party which is just a formality because the party has already selected him as a nominee. Even in the past he has been playing a key role in the political affairs. Thus, political pundits do not rule out possibility of two old enemies joining hands if Amar instrumental.

In politics nothing is done without some gain, especially if elections are round the corner. The two could come together because it is beneficial to both. The SP has not been faring well in the Jat belt where Ajit is a force to reckon with. His influence may have dwindled but you cannot ignore him altogether in the area. With his total support, the party may do better than what it had done in the previous election.

It will not be a loss-making proposition for Ajit either. He is believed to have been approached by some other groups as well but Mulayam is certainly a better choice. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who wants to make some inroads into UP would like him but only if agrees to merge his party into his grand alliance. With merger Ajit would lose his bargaining power. So it is not a good choice.

Clearly, Nitish is a common eney and, as they say, enemy’s enemy is a friend. It applies in both the cases.

The relationship between Choudhry Charan Singh, Ajit’s late father,and Mulayam cannot also be totally ignored in this context.