Kolkata: If the last two days were about sending out broad hints that he was set on a different political course, today Mulayam Singh Yadav spelt out exactly where he stood in his equation with the Congress, that leads the UPA government at the Centre.
"Let me make it clear, the Samajwadi Party does not support the UPA government. It only props up the Congress when it see it weakening and there is a threat of communal forces taking advantage of that," Mr Yadav said, adding, "The situation is such there may be elections earlier than 2014."
For three days in Kolkata, where his party is holding a convention Mr Yadav, whose party helps keep the UPA in power, has appeared determined to prove he's on a different team. Yesterday he had slammed the Congress for financial scams, especially the coal swindle that has forced the government on the defensive amid allegations of entrenched corruption. This after referring to his Samajwadi Party as the opposition on Monday.
"Let me make it clear, the Samajwadi Party does not support the UPA government. It only props up the Congress when it see it weakening and there is a threat of communal forces taking advantage of that," Mr Yadav said, adding, "The situation is such there may be elections earlier than 2014."
For three days in Kolkata, where his party is holding a convention Mr Yadav, whose party helps keep the UPA in power, has appeared determined to prove he's on a different team. Yesterday he had slammed the Congress for financial scams, especially the coal swindle that has forced the government on the defensive amid allegations of entrenched corruption. This after referring to his Samajwadi Party as the opposition on Monday.
Other leaders of Mr Yadav's party also made things more awkward for the Congress yesterday by declaring they see little political ability in Rahul Gandhi. And then, last evening, Mr Yadav's son, 39-year-old Akhilesh, met Mamata Banerjee, whose membership in the UPA often skids towards an expiry date. Both just thanked each other at a quick media conference at the end of the meeting. "After coming to Kolkata, I would not have felt good not meeting Didi. It was necessary to meet her," said Yadav junior after the meeting that lasted for 45 minutes.
Today, Mulayam Singh said he has high regard for Mamata Banerjee.
Yesterday's meeting and the remarks suggest both allies could be willing to explore new equations. Just a few months ago, the Congress managed to blunt a growing closeness between Mr Yadav and Ms Banerjee ahead of the Presidential elections.
"At the Centre, the Congress is depressed. There are so many scams. One minister has given coal blocks to his relatives. The day another man became Coal Minister, he gave coal to his relatives," Mr Yadav said yesterday, while making his intentions clear. "The reputation of the Congress has suffered. The BJP also cannot progress any more. So who will take charge? The Samajwadi Party has that responsibility," Mr Yadav said in Kolkata, urging his party workers to ensure that they get enough seats in the next general election to ensure that the government at the Centre cannot be formed without them.
Attacking Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary Mohan Singh said that he was unable to lead the country politically. "We have heard little from him on national issues. How (can we) say that the country will be safe in his hands?" Mr Singh asked.
Mr Singh also said that the Samajwadi Party was unlikely to bail out the UPA government if its allies desert them the next time. The party provides external support to the Congress-led coalition at the Centre and has bailed out the government during crucial legislation. The Congress relies on his Lok Sabha MPs to help rescue the government if an unreliable ally like Mamata Banerjee should opt out of the UPA government. It may have to reconsider that.
Reacting to the Samajwadi Party's comments, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, "I don't know what Mulayamji has said but I can tell you that sometime back when we released our report card, he was present at the function, standing next to the PM."
The Samajwadi Party has also made it clear that it is blueprinting a coalition as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP for the general election in 2014. "We have sown the seeds for a Third Front," said Mr Singh, referencing a recent protest that the Samajwadi Party held outside Parliament recently along with the Left, the Telugu Desam Party, and the DMK, which participates in the ruling coalition at the Centre.
"The third set of parties are there but in different states. Let them come together. Then both Congress and BJP will be blown away," he added. Though Mr Singh said that Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was a major regional outfit which his party would talk to, he also kept his lines open with the Left, with which his party has had traditional ties. Ms Banerjee and the Left are traditional rivals in West Bengal.
Today, Mulayam Singh said he has high regard for Mamata Banerjee.
Yesterday's meeting and the remarks suggest both allies could be willing to explore new equations. Just a few months ago, the Congress managed to blunt a growing closeness between Mr Yadav and Ms Banerjee ahead of the Presidential elections.
"At the Centre, the Congress is depressed. There are so many scams. One minister has given coal blocks to his relatives. The day another man became Coal Minister, he gave coal to his relatives," Mr Yadav said yesterday, while making his intentions clear. "The reputation of the Congress has suffered. The BJP also cannot progress any more. So who will take charge? The Samajwadi Party has that responsibility," Mr Yadav said in Kolkata, urging his party workers to ensure that they get enough seats in the next general election to ensure that the government at the Centre cannot be formed without them.
Attacking Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary Mohan Singh said that he was unable to lead the country politically. "We have heard little from him on national issues. How (can we) say that the country will be safe in his hands?" Mr Singh asked.
Mr Singh also said that the Samajwadi Party was unlikely to bail out the UPA government if its allies desert them the next time. The party provides external support to the Congress-led coalition at the Centre and has bailed out the government during crucial legislation. The Congress relies on his Lok Sabha MPs to help rescue the government if an unreliable ally like Mamata Banerjee should opt out of the UPA government. It may have to reconsider that.
Reacting to the Samajwadi Party's comments, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, "I don't know what Mulayamji has said but I can tell you that sometime back when we released our report card, he was present at the function, standing next to the PM."
The Samajwadi Party has also made it clear that it is blueprinting a coalition as an alternative to the Congress and the BJP for the general election in 2014. "We have sown the seeds for a Third Front," said Mr Singh, referencing a recent protest that the Samajwadi Party held outside Parliament recently along with the Left, the Telugu Desam Party, and the DMK, which participates in the ruling coalition at the Centre.
"The third set of parties are there but in different states. Let them come together. Then both Congress and BJP will be blown away," he added. Though Mr Singh said that Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress was a major regional outfit which his party would talk to, he also kept his lines open with the Left, with which his party has had traditional ties. Ms Banerjee and the Left are traditional rivals in West Bengal.
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