Idea of Grand Alliance lies shattered as Akhilesh, Shivpal cross swords at Silver Jubilee ceremony
Patna,(BiharTimes): The open verbal duel between Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Singh Yadav and state Samajwadi Party president, Shivpal Yadav, at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the party in Lucknow, in a way, drove a proverbial last nail into the idea of what was dubbed as Bihar-type Grand Alliance in the poll-bound state.
On Saturday they publicly crossed swords two days after the inauguration of Akhilesh’s Rath Yatra on November 3. The only difference was that on Saturday the unsavoury incident took place in presence of guests like former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and former JD(U) president, Sharad Yadav and many others.
Incidentally, while speaking on the occasion all these leaders, who have little stake in UP, openly hinted that they are inclined more towards Akhilesh, rather than the old guards of the party. Though, it is also a fact that Lalu asked Mulayam to take the lead in bringing in everyone together. But that was more an advice by a ‘samadhi’ than as a political friend.
Nitish Kumar, who took the excuse of Chhath not to attend the show, had already made it public his preference for Akhilesh. Besides, he had made it clear that in UP no Grand Alliance is possible without the inclusion of Mayawati’s BSP.
Both Lalu and Nitish have not forgotten last year’s humiliation when SP rejected their proposal of mega-merger of all the six parties of Janata Parivar.
A top JD(U) leader, wishing not to be quoted, said that Muslims are overhelming moving towards Mayawati and it would be wrong to spoil the game and divide their votes and thus pave the way for BJP’s victory.
The Rashtriya Lok Dal, which unlike RJD and JD(U), has some say in west UP, too refused to take part in the jamboree.
Now the Congress party too have made it amply clear that it too would prefer Akhilesh over Mulayam-Shivpal duo.
In the meantime, Mayawati, held a Press conference on Saturday evening once again warned her core voters, especially Muslims, that they should not be carried away by the efforts to divide the community’s votes as it would facilitate the BJP victory.
UP watchers are of the view that both Akhilesh and Shivpal factions have spoiled the last chance of forming any alliance. “If the party itself is not united, how could the Grand Alliance come into force,” commented an analyst.
