In the quicksand of politics where new political equations are emerging and disappearing in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, All India Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi met Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) president Shivpal Singh Yadav at his Lucknow residence late on Tuesday and both leaders later termed it as a “courtesy meeting”.
Owaisi said, "Shivpal ji is a very senior leader of Uttar Pradesh. I just came to meet him. It was a courtesy call."
He refused to say whether the two discussed any future political plans.
Deepak Misra, spokesman of PSPL said, "One should not read too much into the visit. Is it not normal for leaders to meet each other socially?"
This is the third time that the two leaders have met in recent months.
According to sources, Shivpal Yadav is still waiting for Samajwadi Party to take a call on an alliance with his party.
"Shivpal is under tremendous pressure from his brother Mulayam Singh Yadav, who wants his son Akhilesh and brother Shivpal to bury the hatchet and join hands before the 2022 assembly elections. Akhilesh is taking his own time on the issue and Shivpal does not wish to jeopardize the move. Hence, he is noncommittal on the issue with other alliances," said a source close to Shivpal Yadav.
Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, is said to be completely averse to any alliance with AIMIM since he views the party as a threat to the Muslim vote base of Samajwadi Party.