IT will not be a surprise if very shortly – it could be within a few weeks – Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav were to join the UPA. For a long time now, the party has been giving support to the UPA in its bid to get the required majority number in Parliament for survival.
It was an SP leader who brought in a motion — later it was labelled as an amendment by the Speaker — when the Lokpal Bill was taken in Parliament. The government got full support from the SP in its calculated move to refer the Lokpal to a select committee of the Parliament. And finally, Mulayam Singh Yadav was an important guest at a dinner hosted by the UPA to celebrate its third year in office.
The SP will hugely benefit in Uttar Pradesh, thanks to its close connection with the UPA government. And the UPA’s problem with regard to coalition compulsions is likely to end with the SP joining it.
In the first place, the SP will approve and support the Congress choice for the President’s post. And the major worry of the Congress following the continuing non-cooperation from Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Party will end.
If SP supports it, the Congress does not have to bother about Trinamool’s support to remain in power. It is clear Mulayam Singh may ask the UPA government for huge concessions in return for the support he will give.
Freeing itself from the compulsions in its association with the Trinamool Congress and the DMK and getting closer to the SP is not likely to end UPA’s trouble: It will be just a choice between the devil and the deep sea.