Will support UPA, says Mulayam

New Delhi: Mulayam Singh Yadav has put the Congress out of its misery for now, stating today that his external support to the UPA government continues if only to keep "communal forces", read the BJP, out. 
 
But Mr Yadav also said that his party would continue to protest against the decision to allow FDI in retail. And that it was up to the UPA government how it wanted to run. 
 
After the Trinamool Congress officially communicates to the President of India today that it does not support the UPA anymore, the Congress-led government will be in a minority. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not have to seek a vote of confidence unless either Mr Yadav or the BSP's Mayawati withdraw letters they have earlier submitted to the president pledging their support to the UPA. Mr Yadav's statement today, thus, will give it a breather.
 
Mr Yadav, who has not proved the most stable of allies, had so far been keeping the Congress guessing, with his partymen making contrary statements even this morning, and the last word may not have been said on this yet.
 
Mr Yadav's brother and senior party colleague Ram Gopal Yadav today said, "We will remain with the government only to keep communal forces from gaining," like Mulayam Singh, making clear that while the party was not happy with the Congress, keeping the BJP out was a more exigent need. 
 
But another senior party leader Mohan Singh said that support would not come free. He said, "The Samajwadi Party will discuss the matter of support to the UPA very soon. The govt has to roll back FDI in retail at any cost if they want our support, it is not negotiable."
 
Mr Singh also praised Mamata Banerjee for sticking to her guns. "We have always been against FDI in retail and they had withdrawn the decision. Now the PM has again brought it in. We appreciate what Mamata Banerjee has done. She took a strong stance and we have to say that she is one of the ministers in the country who believes in the benefit of the people and the poor. She is very strong. We have to congratulate her."
 
Mulayam Singh Yadav's political compulsions do not allow him to do a Mamata. In UP, the 18 per cent Muslims form an important part of his support base and Mr Yadav cannot afford to be seen as responsible for the BJP getting a chance to come to power. Also, the party fears that a stronger BJP will field Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its leader. 
 
Mulayam Singh Yadav's political choices right now will also be heavily influenced by the BSP factor. Arch rival Mayawati with her 22 MPs has compelling political reasons to continue her support to the UPA government - for one, unlike Mulayam Singh Yadav, she will not want mid-term elections at any cost right now, since she needs to consolidate her position after her big loss in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year. Mayawati has said she will only reveal her game-plan in October 9. Mulayam Singh can ill -afford to let Ms Mayawati play a key role in keeping the government afloat.