Left renews ties with Mulayam

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s eagerness to engage regional forces,especially the SP,has alarmed the Left which is now walking the extra mile to keep Mulayam Singh Yadav in good humour. Although the CPM is still cagey about resurrecting the Third Front,Left leaders are keen to ensure that Mamata does not join hands with what they call their “secular friends”,the most sought after of which is now the SP. On Monday,senior CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta walked into the SP’s office in Parliament to congratulate Mulayam and his chief minister-designate son Akhilesh. Dasgupta invited Akhilesh to CPI headquarters,Ajoy Bhawan,and took the Yadav junior with him in the same car. At Ajoy Bhawan,a felicitation for Akhilesh was hastily organised and a symbolic “red bouquet” was given to welcome him. Dasgupta while addressing a small gathering did not forget to mention Akhilesh’s ubiquitous “red” cap and urged him to work for the toiling masses.