Attempt of the Congress to stitch an alliance a la Bihar to root out the Akhilesh Yadav government in the 2017 Assembly polls and his marginalisation within the party, led Beni Prasad Verma to rejoin the SP.
"I can fight Mulayam Singh Yadav. I can also tolerate if somebody is opposed to him, but I cannot stand any one opposing Akhilesh. He is like my son. Congress is trying to forge a coalition against the SP for the 2017 polls. So I decided to part company with the grand old party,’’ said Verma in lucknow on Friday.
"However, I would thank Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi for nominating me to the highest decision making body - Congress Working Committee and inducting me in the Union cabinet,’’ said he.
The veteran leader said, "I have nothing against the Congress. Since the 2014 Parliament polls, I was practically without work. I met Rahul Gandhi a couple of times, but nothing materialised. Hence, I decided to return to the SP.’’
On Congress drafting in poll strategist Prashant Kishore for its revival in UP, Verma said, "I have never met Kishore and hence I have no idea as to what he is doing for the party's revival. But I can say its unfortunate for the Congress to rely on such persons.’’
"It is pitiable to see the Congress rely on a greenhorn and political novice like Prashant Kishore for its revival in the state,’’ said Verma.
Verma had expressed his resentment to the leadership and boycotted almost all party meetings after losing the lok Sabha polls from Gonda in 2014. He was also unhappy with the party's support in getting P l Punia elected to Rajya Sabha in 2014.
The return of Beni to the SP is expected to impact the poll fortunes of the ruling party in at least 10 districts of East and Central UP and also in Bundelkhand where Kurmis are in sizeable numbers. A five-term lok Sabha member, Verma happens to be the tallest Kurmi leader which is a dominant OBC casre in the state.
The SP is also desperate to shore up its electoral support base among Kurmis and other OBCs ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls and Verma's return should certainly help in this diorection.
After a four-decade association with Mulayam, Verma parted ways after 2004 lok Sabha polls elections and formed a new outfit 'Samajwadi Kranti Dal' just before the 2007 Assembly polls.
His outfit failed to click in the 2007 polls and Verma tacitly allied with the Congress but failed to win any seat. Verma himself lost his security deposit from Faizabad-Ayodhya seat in the 2007 Assembly polls. later, he joined the Congress ahead of the 2009 lok Sabha polls and went on to be appointed as Union minister of Steel.