Politics of friendship: Cong, SP workers shake hands

FRIENDS AGAIN: The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are enjoying their new found friendship.

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Rajdeep Sardesai

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Keywords: Left, Sonia Gandhi

Lucknow: Till just a few months back, Congress worker Musheer Ahmad, who is now telling everyone that SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav is a great man, was busy telling the voters about how much damage Mulayam had done as UP's chief minister.

Now however, Ahmad is singing a different tune, perhaps encouraged from his party high command which is also courting the SP.

At the ground level, workers of both the parties too have started shaking hands.

While Congress workers like Mohiuddhin Asig say: "Log ek doosre ho mubarak baad de rahe hain." ("People are congratulating each other."); SP workers like Raj Bahadur Yadav are busy telling everyone that the nuclear deal is in the country's favour.

During Mulayam's four-year regime as chief minister of UP, relations between Congress and SP reached an all time low. During those times, they were sworn enemies, but now they are enjoying their new friendship.

Congress worker, Jeewan Srivastava says, "Mulayam ek swastaha chavi ke hai. Kuch netaon ne Mulayam and Sonia ki beech main aranga lagaya." ("Mulayam has a clean image. Some leaders tied to engineer a split between the Mulayam and Sonia.")

Adds SP worker, Pawan Kumar Yadav, "Jo Neta hamere decide karenge, woh desh hit main hai." (Whatever our leaders decide, will be in the country's favour.")

After Mulayam engineered a split in the Bahujan Samaj Party in 2003 and captured power in UP, the Congress promptly extended its support to the SP on the floor of the House. But by the time Mulayam's four-year rule ended, the two parties had parted ways.

As the SP and the Congress come closer at the ground level, several issues will have to be settled by both the parties. Mulayam will have to ensure that his alliance with Congress does not dent his crucial Muslim vote bank.

The Congress in turn would have to explain to its workers under what circumstances it's forging an alliance with the SP - the same party who was its enemy number one just a year ago.