Silhouette of a grand alliance appeared on the horizon of UP’s real politik as Congress strategist Prashant Kishore had a brainstorming session with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for two hours at the latter’s official residence on Monday. Post meeting, the insiders maintained that it was a conscious effort on driving home the point the need to have a pact among like-minded parties.
Prashant Kishore aka PK reached the CM’s residence at 2 pm and left at 4.07 pm without speaking to the media. Sources said that the one-to-one meeting saw PK explaining why Congress and Samajwadi Party should contest polls as partners along with other like-minded parties.
Yadav had already thrown enough hints to suggest that something was cooking by telling a group of journalists that if the Congress and the SP wanted to forge an alliance, no one could stop them.
The parley assumes importance as earlier theCM had refused an audience to PK as he was told that Amar Singh was behind brokering the pact. last week, PK had a marathon meeting with SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav at Amar Singh’s Delhi residence.
On Friday – a day after SP’s silver jubilee foundation day function – PK had another round of meeting with Mulayam in lucknow. He had a separate meeting with Shivpal Yadav too. Despite so much happening in the party, Akhilesh had refused to meet PK for the last two days.
A senior SP leader told ‘The Pioneer’ that the CM has not categorically assured on an alliance but promised to speak to the party president overthe issue and then revert.
Incidentally, Akhilesh has been against any electoral pact. Three months back, when Shivpal Yadav inked a pack with Qaumi Ekta Dal, Akhilesh had revolted and said: “If we can strengthen our booths, we can win election hands down. There is no need to have an alliance.”
Much water has flown down river Gomti since. On Monday, however, theCM said that he has asked Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) to consider all options and possible outcome of the alliance focussing on who will benefit from the tie-up.
Meanwhile, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav dashed to New Delhi this evening triggering speculations about further talks on the alliance. SP sources said that he could hold talk with senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi or vice-president Rahul Gandhi.