Is Congress Ready To Patch Up With Mulayam?

While the Samajwadi Party has always been a tricky ally, vacillating over its decision to keep supporting the UPA, the buzz that they might finally withdraw support has been getting stronger.

Mulayam Singh Yadav had first raised the chorus after union minister Beni Prasad called him a ‘dacoit’ and ‘terrorist’.  A Parliamentary meet was convened which remained inconclusive and the SP issue was overshadowed  by the news of a CBI raid on DMK leader Stalin’s properties.

However, Congress seems to be extending an olive branch to the Samajwadi Party given its support is of utmost importance to them if the numbers are anything to go by.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram at a public meeting was heard saying that the UPA is in full support of Uttar Pradesh’s growth plans.

“I had a long discussion with Mulayam Singh Yadav. I told him that the UPA will always back the UP government. We talked about a lot of issues. I have promised to go back to Delhi, discuss them at length and figure out what would be the best possible measures for UP’s development. Following that we will call Mr Yadav and UP officials to Delhi,” said Chidambaram.

Congress minister Manish Tewari added to the UPA’s chorus by calling Mulayam a valuable ally. “We will always support the Uttar Pradesh government. However, Mulayam Singh has to decide whether he wants to be with communal forces or secular forces,” he said.

The latest activity comes even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh admitted that there was a possibility that the SP would withdraw support from the UPA coalition in Parliament.