The Mulayam Singh Yadav government may continue to be indifferent to persistent Congress attacks over its performance in the state, but it is careful to keep all emergency contingents in place in case of a threat to the government. Samajwadi Party leaders are closely watching the movement of the dozen rebel MLAs of the Opposition BJP, some of whom have even been served showcause notices by their party.Last month, the rebel BJP MLAs had invited the ire of their leadership after they openly flaunted their allegiance to Thakur leader Raja Bhaiyya, who was inducted as a minister in Mulayam’s Cabinet. The SP had championed the cause for Bhaiyya’s release after his arrest under POTA. Several Thakur BJP MLAs had rallied around the SP, which they believed was more committed to the cause of releasing Bhaiyya than their own party. These MLAs not only made an exhibition of their support at Bhaiyya’s swearing-in ceremony, but also sat on the treasury benches along with their ‘‘leader’’ during the Assembly session.The SP is now eyeing these rebels with interest, for, if the Congress lures its ally, RLD’s Ajit Singh and his 13 MLAs, the SP can hope to bank on its Speaker to bring the ‘‘expelled’’ MLAs on its side as ‘‘unattached’’ members and avoid the fall of its government.Meanwhile, the SP is keenly awaiting the by-election of 12 MLAs. The MLAs have to be elected before the end of September, when the six-month period for a by-election lapses, and the party is hoping to win most of the seats.
