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| Mulayam’s googly | | Enigmatic SP leader keeps UPA on its toes | |
SAMAJWADI Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav knows how to get the maximum mileage out of any situation and his recent comment hinting that the days of one-party rule are over and the future belongs to coalition governments, has got him reams of newsprint as well as much time on various television shows. Coming as it does in the wake of the controversy after Congress minister Beni Prasad Verma’s comments against Yadav, which had escalated into a standoff that was only sorted out after the Congress had to eat the humble pie. It also gave Yadav a good measure of how vulnerable the top Congress leadership is following the DMK pullout.
The rise of regional parties has long been an accepted shibboleth, but there is not much doubt that the current state of flux in Indian politics does not bode well for the nation. The junior partners have much more clout than their numbers warrant, and naturally, they are making the most of their current strength. The Samajwadi Party leader’s 22 Lok Sabha MPs provide crucial outside support to the Congress-led UPA. He has also been exploring the option of a third front for a national alternative, but has not found much traction. However, he has the ability to rock the UPA boat, and he knows better than many the fine art of extracting the maximum benefit from any political situation. He is quite capable of using the resultant flux to his advantage. The UPA is feeling the heat of the loss of support from the DMK. While it has been able to cobble together support for the government from other parties, it has left itself open to being exploited by those on whose support it depends. Leaders of small parties are having a field day, and this is certainly making it difficult for the Congress to stick to its agenda, especially its economic goals. Even as it tries to understand the enigmatic political player in Mulayam Singh, it must realise how difficult the days ahead are going to be. |
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