Mulayam,Lalu likely to join hands,says Amar Singh

Singh’s remarks came close on the heels of a telephonic talk he had with Lalu Prasad who is reportedly unhappy over the Congress’ putting up a host of candidates in his home turf of Bihar.

“The politics to finish Mulayam and Lalu from Hindi heartland by anybody is not going to be tolerated by the workers of the respective parties,” Singh said.

The SP leader said with Lalu and Yadav coming together,‘the entire secular brigade of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as a chunk will remain together. Lalu ji telephonically informed me this morning that even if SP decides to field candidates against RJD,he is going to campaign,as he has earlier said,in favour of Mulayam Singhji’.

Interestingly,Amar Singh did not mention whether Congress party would be playing any role in the proposed Mulayam-Lalu alliance.

He,however,was not optimistic of the Congress’ poll prospects under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying,”It is their perception that they may win under Manmohan Singh ji”.

“When his (PM’s) political impact had no effect in Punjab (assembly elections),then how will it help in UP. The Akali Dal swept the power in Punjab during his Prime Ministership,” Singh said.

At the same time,both his party as well as Congress are ‘made for each other as we cannot go with Left which is standing with BSP. Also both we and Congress have a common agenda of breaking the unholy nexus of BSP-BJP in Uttar Pradesh,’ the Samajwadi Party general secretary said.

“I would be most happy if BSP and BJP have no impact in UP while Manmohanji and Sonia ji leave their impact there. Whether Congress wins of we win,it is one and the same thing. As it is,for four-and-a-half years,we have suffered Congress attacks,but still decided to support them when the Left parties deserted them,” Singh added.