A day after ruling out the possibility of rejoining Samajwadi Party, Amar Singh shared the dais with party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and CM Akhilesh Yadav in lucknow on Thursday.
Singh joined the flanks of the first family of SP during the foundation laying ceremony of the Medanta Awadh hospital off Sultanpur Road.
What musthave ruffled Singh critics within the party was that the CM not only escorted the wily Thakur leader to the dais but also couteously offered him his chair next to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. In all such functions, the CM sits next to his father and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. The latest round of public display of the bonhomie of Amar Singh with the first family of SP has given rise to speculations that his Rshome coming’ was imminent. However a source within the SP claimed : RsRsIt would be naïve to read too much into the latest display of exchange of pleasantries and goodwill.
A lot of contentious issues have to be settled within the first family before his return is even considered.’’ Another SP leader dismissed the warming up saying, “Today’s meeting is nothing more than a photo opportunity for the media. Singh had earlier shared the dais with the SP chief and the CM in October last year at a party functions at Janeshwar Mishra park, lucknow. He was also present at the Iftar party at the CMs residence in July. later in August and September too, Singh had called on the CM and Mulayam Singh Yadav.”
The leader opined, “Singh faces three hurdles - national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP, Ram Gopal Yadav, senior minister Azam Khan and the most important is that he wants to return to the fold with the same clout and authority to deal with high echelons of power centers in New Delhi.”
“The responsibilities shared by Amar Singh as party’s general secretary have now been distributed among the Yadav family and crucial matters are being looked after by Ram Gopal Yadav. Hence any decision on his return is not possible without the approval of Ram Gopal Yadav. Singh’s return will alter the balance of power within the outfit and the government. Only SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav can either veto Ram Gopal or make him understand,’’ said the SP leader. He also pointed out that by taking a jibe at Jaya Bacchan over eating pork in Glasgow (Scotland), Singh has already riled Ram Gopal Yadav as Jaya is understood to be close to him.
However another SP leader dissented with the reasoning and opined, “The party urgently needs a robust political war horse in Delhi for managing media, forming perception and dealing with business houses. Present spokesman Gaurav Bhatia has proved to be wanting in fighting the negative perception of the Akhilesh Yadav government.” Only recently, Singh had taken a pot shot at his bête noire Azam Khan saying that he was expelled at Khan’s behest and also advised him to cancel his idea of taking the Dadri issue to the UN lest he be humiliated by body searches in US airports.