File pic: Mulayam Singh Yadav
Sharing the stage with old rival Nitish Kumar this week, Bihar politician Lalu Prasad Yadav suggested that Uttar Pradesh arch-enemies Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati should also come together against the BJP. Mulayam Singh responded today, "If Lalu mediates, I will join hands with Mayawati."
The Samajwadi Party leader has been at daggers drawn with Mayawati, the chief of the Bahujan Samaj Party, for nearly two decades.
Former enemies coming together became the political flavor after Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav, both former Chief Ministers of Bihar, vowed to campaign together for upcoming by-polls, to arrest the march of the BJP, which swept the state in the national election. The two leaders are also testing waters for state elections next year.
"Our alliance has sent a good message to everyone," Lalu said at a public rally in Hajipur of his new partnership with Nitish Kumar, who he referred to as his younger brother."I appeal to Mulayam Singh and Mayawati to enter a maha-alliance too," he added.
Mulayam's response came two days later: "Lalu unka (Mayawati)
haath pakad le aayen toh hum haat mila lenge (If Lalu brings Mayawati, I will join hands with her)."
The Uttar Pradesh rivals suffered similar humiliation in the national election, with the BJP bagging 71 of the state's 80 seats. Mulayam's party won just five seats and Mayawati none at all.
On their joining forces against the BJP, Nitish Kumar's colleague and Janata Dal United leader Sharad Yadav said, "I will just say that what happened in Bihar, we initiated it. Whatever happens in future, whether this kind of partnership can be broadened, we will see and let you know."
Uttar Pradesh votes in 2017 for a new assembly. But the BJP has made it clear that it will work hard in the crucial state to consolidate on its splendid performance of May.