The ruling Samajwadi Party is facing problems on two fronts. The first is related to its political warfare with the Congress. The second relates to dealing with egos of its senior party leaders. Apparently, the SP’s battle with the Congress, surfaced with its opposition to the Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma’s barbs against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. The intensity of the Beni-Mulayam tussle has not mellowed. And, this has not stopped the SP from targeting the Congress in every which way, beginning with the Congress-CBI nexus.
Obviously, this has left the people wondering if the Congress has made fresh attempts to speed up Mulayam’s pending disproportionate assets case or not. Of course, many have even forgotten about the case as the SP continues to extend support to the UPA-II Government. While the SP blows hot and cold against the Centre, its rival, the BSP, is consistent in its stand. While it continues to extend support to the Centre, it believes that the tenure of UPA-II is shortlived and it will be toppled by its own contradictions.
As far as the inner bickerings are concerned, nowadays, the Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Minister Mohd Azam Khan appears to be sulking. No wonder he is not to be seen at many of the important programmes and inaugurations by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
This seems to be a deliberate move since most of the times Khan is seen on the side of the Chief Minister as also he is looked upon as the Muslim face of the SP Government. But, he is known for his tantrums, especially his ire against the bureaucrats has often made headlines as he has made it amply clear that he would on no account tolerate their indiscipline.
When a party worker questioned Khan’s absence from important functions chaired by the Chief Minister, he was told that it was mainly because his political opponent, senior SP leader and Health Minister Ahmad Hasan had replaced him. Hence, he was present at all the functions when Khan chose to stay away.
As the game of one upmanship continues, the rank and file in the SP feel that such happenings in the party are not new. In fact, they have by now got used to it since either it is Khan or Hasan who sulk from time to time.
The recent visit of the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari has only added to the woes of the ruling SP since its overtures to woo the minority community are in doldrums. Bukhari was not only critical of Mulayam but also predicted that the party was losing its popularity among the Muslims. Khan, of course, had no option but to defend the SP Government.
Those babu shifts
Former BSP Chief Minister Mayawati’s blue-eyed boys are doing their best to gain proximity with the SP. This is not surprising as the bureaucrats are well versed with ways to please their political bosses. No wonder we have some senior officers who have earned the distinction of being close to the Chief Minister irrespective of his party affiliation.
So, senior officers close to BSP chief Mayawati, who had been dumped after SP took over, have now succeeded in coming close to the Akhilesh Yadav Government. Despite the fact that these officers were given unimportant posts, the Chief Minister recently patted their backs for good work. This has given rise to speculation that these officers may be given important posts once again.
Of course, all this and much more is being closely monitored by Behenji. Perhaps, the bureaucrats in question are well aware of this but they feel that the SP Government has another four years to go in the State. The time could provide them ample opportunity to climb up the ladder since anyone who is a someone is a member of the Opportunist Party of India and why not said one since it is the end result that really matters.
Nno end to problems
The State BJP unit is beset with problems. Initially, it was said that all will be well once a new State chief was appointed. The BJP State president has completed almost a year and the party is yet to make progress. The inner bickerings and groupism continues to plague the party. While the SP and BSP has already started making preparations for the 2014 lok Sabha elections by short listing its prospective candidates for the polls, the BJP and the Congress are way behind.
Rumblings in the BJP have already started around a possible change in the State leadership following complaints of lakshmikant Bajpayi’s style of functioning. Party insiders said it was rather unfortunate that the State party chief has not been lucky enough to host a single programme of the party’s national president Rajnath Singh in UP. Therefore, the saffron leaders had better watch out as lok Sabha elections are round the corner.