NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) appear to be moving closer towards an understanding, official denial notwithstanding, Sources in the third front indicated that though seemingly insurmountable hurdles exit, the possibility of an understanding among three appear bright. However, hawks in the three formations were putting up a stiff The sources said the Dal’s Uttar Pradesh unit chief Ram Asrey Verma was ‘shill unhappy with the prospects of aligning with Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav and was not trying to hide his feelings. Last week, for instance, Mr. Verma addressed a rally in Lucknow for which he had invited almost all the top Dal leaders including former Prime Minister V.P. Singh and party President Laloo Prasad Yadav, Mr. Sharad Yadav and Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan.
Laloo Prasad one of the brains behind the rally, he stayed away as did Mr. V.P. Singh. Despite saying the Dal would endeavor to get the BSP into the fold, Mr. Yadav said he would not like to rub Mr. Mulayam Singh on the wrong side, when he said that there is no question of going back on the party’s commitment of firs tying up with the SP.
Similarly, the SP to0 is sending feelers which appear contradictory but which sources in the party say indicate that the party is seriously considering a covert or indirect understanding with the BSP through the Dal.
Despite vehemently reacting to any mention the BSP, Mr, Mulayam Singh has chosen not to repudiate the ties with the Dal, despite Mr. Laloo Yadav’s statements. Even though his friends in the Left were alarmed by Mr, Laloo Yaday’s remarks Mr. Mulayam Singh have remained unperturbed. ‘The two Yadav leaders have already started talking and sources in both parties indicated that both of them seem to want to avoid media glare for their first direct talk which may take place soon, CPLM general secretary Harkishan ‘Singh Surjeet who shot off a faxed message to all PAC members of the Dal last week, warning them against ruffling the SP’s feathers, qualified it on Monday by saying that as long as Mr. Mulayam Singh has no problems the Left too is amenable. Even in the BSP there are two sharply divided opinions, represented by party chief Kanshi Ram and former UP Chief Minister Mayawati, While Mr. Kanshi Ram is sounding interested in an alliance with the Dal as well as with the SP, while Ms. Mayawati would have none of it. According to reliable sources Ms., Mayawati is being actively pursued both by the Congress and the BJP. From the Congress side Mr, Ajit Singh is in touch with her while from the BJP is state party president Kalai Mishrat Yet political observers believe that Mr. Kanshi Ram will have the last word, just as he did at the time of bringing down Ms. Mayawati’s government in UP.
Nevertheless it is too early to say how the nitty gritty of such an arrangement will work out, especially as the crucial scat adjustments between them has to be worked out as well.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1996
