Don't forget on your success.... Power & Politics/The Sunday Standard/ August 04, 2013

Don't Forget on your Success Depends Survival of Young Leadership Experiment

Dear Akhilesh,

I’m sure you are well aware that a large number of young voters are feeling betrayed. The diabolic suspension of Durga Shakti Nagpal, a young, brilliant IAS officer, for taking on the sand mafia has unmasked the dark side of your administration. Political vendettas, humiliation of civil servants, threatening abuse from Samajwadi Party satraps and the brutal killings of political leaders have marred your personal image. You still come across as one of the country’s most affable chief ministers. But your government is perceived as the most chaotic in India. It is one lacking an assertive leader. You may have fulfilled your promise to give young voters free laptops with Internet connections. But they aren’t able to reconcile your modern mind with your government’s autocratic actions. When you took over two years ago, the 180 million people of Uttar Pradesh saw in India’s youngest Chief Minister a catalyst for change.

I have seen you grow up in the Yadav clan, dominated by caste considerations. Your father Mulayam Singh Yadav sent you to tony schools and also abroad for better education in the hope that you would turn out to be the game-changer for the parivar and the state. He made you the SP state president to lead the party in the Assembly elections. You cycled through the dust and heat of the caste-ridden, communally volatile state. Your red cap, black waistcoat and bicycle became the symbol of change, which the voters were looking forward to. You proved wrong the elitist propagandists—who were pitching for a coalition government—by winning a record number of seats any regional party has ever won in Uttar Pradesh. Just a few weeks before the elections, when I interviewed you for my show Teekhi Baat for IBN7, you were surprised about being given such prominence. My media colleagues laughed at my choice of the 38-year-old budding politician who would never make it to chief minister’s chair. Soon, they had to eat their words and chase you for interviews. You were candid and assertive. You assured viewers that you wouldn’t allow party cadres to dictate terms to the government. You promised to erase the SP’s goonda raj image in the state and that civil servants would be given full freedom from interference. Finally, you vowed that if voted to absolute power, your party would follow growth-driven policies. Not only Uttar Pradesh but also the entire country was expecting a marvellous model of modern governance from the youngest chief minister of India’s most populous state. Sadly, you have now been compelled to forget your promises and stick to the conventional politics of patronage. Like another young chief minister, Jammu and Kashmir’s Omar Abdullah, you were also chosen to lead the state in a midnight operation. Omar, by his pathetic performance, has proved beyond doubt that dynastic succession doesn’t ensure success in governance. But you were expected to justify dynastic politics by excelling in delivery and not retain the hidden traits of feudal machinations.

The past 17 months seem to have taken a toll not only on your political acumen but also on your determination to deliver on promises. Though your ascension was a hereditary transition of power from a father to a son, it was meant to change the direction, dialogue and the development tapestry of the state. Soon after you took over, some Samajwadi goons went on a rampage—attacking officials, extracting ransom from innocents and grabbing land. Suddenly, an Akhilesh Sena comprising lumpen elements had popped up, which started to threaten opponents with violence. You disbanded it quickly and ordered some of them arrested.

Unfortunately, it is the only visible action you have taken as chief minister. Since then, your ability and credibility seem to have eroded. Sometimes, your own admirers compare you with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is in the chair but not in power. Unlike other SP leaders, you still enjoy a clean image. You haven’t promoted factionalism within the party, but you haven’t acted against the dirty politics which is destroying your image either. Your ministers and party leaders openly abuse civil servants, patronise dons and mafias and help illegal commercial activities. You are told that the bureaucracy is out to destabilise your government by creating caste and communal tensions. Your counsellors are taking advantage of SP’s multiple power centres. Many decisions taken in the morning are reversed by the evening by other ‘unknown’ powers. Recently, the transfers of over a dozen senior officials ordered and approved by you were put in abeyance as soon as you took off from Lucknow for an official visit to the south. These nefarious forces have taken full advantage of your silence and inaction for their deeds and misdeeds. They haven’t allowed you to declare your agenda for governance. Your government hasn’t been able to attract any major investments. It hasn’t started any new infrastructure projects. The ‘cabal that shall not be named’ has made you a captive chief minister who is unwilling to disrupt the existing power structure. It is because of this scary scenario that many senior and excellent civil servants posted at the Centre and other states are unwilling to stay in UP. Bureaucrats in your state are unwilling to take decisions and have stopped processing even normal administrative files. Most of your MLAs and MPs, while appreciating your anguish, are disillusioned by your inaction and indifference. They feel that you are now a reluctant chief minister who is willing to compromise but not fight. Don’t forget that leaders of your age group have a bigger stake in the state’s future than the old netas who have won by dividing people and not socially and economically empowering them. Don’t forget that in your success depends the survival of the Young Leadership experiment. Your failure will only ensure the perpetuation of the old and tired leadership.

(Follow me on Twitter @PrabhuChawla. Or, email: prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com)

Teekhi Baat with Mulayam Singh Yadav/March 31, 2013, IBN7

'We will not withdraw support; UPA themselves will hold elections in November'

With his now-on-now-off threat to withdraw support to the UPA Government, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has kept the Congress-led government on tenterhooks. Yadav spoke  on the DMK, the Congress, his support to the UPA Government, Sonia Gandhi, the Uttar Pradesh Government and host of other issues during Teekhi Baat on IBN7. Excerpts:

You said Congress is a traitor party, but you’ve been supporting it for the past eight years.

Karunanidhi joined the government, following which one minister of his party was framed and sent to jail. He said that he would spill the beans and stated that it was not his decision (2G spectrum auction) alone; others were party to it too.

Who are they?

Let them be anybody, they know it. He will say it on his own, at some time he may have to say it before the court. In the same manner, we saved their government when they were facing hard times. If we had not, it would not have stayed till today.

In 2008, if you would not have saved the government...

As soon as we extended support, they let loose the CBI on me. They are using the CBI and income tax department to run the government. They betray the ones who support them.

They betrayed the DMK and you; that is what you say. 

Others too have been betrayed by them.

Till now, only you have been betrayed, with CBI, income tax.

They put Karunanidhi’s daughter and their minister in jail.

You feel Congress fixed them?

How else? The government has fixed them.

Did they purposely do it and why?

How can it happen by mistake? Who has control over the CBI and income tax department?

Why did they do it?

So that people support them out of fear.

They do so because they want support of Mulayam Singh.

If I had fear, I would not have spoken out openly.

Do you think the Congress is not a party that can be trusted?

It was never a party that one could trust.

Even then you support it?

It is due to our principles that we are against communal forces.

Elections are next year in May.

It’ll not be in May, but before that.

You say elections will happen earlier.

They will be in November.

Congress spokesperson said “if we are traitors, then why are they supporting traitors?”

If they have said, the party will think about it.

You mean you are not in the mood to withdraw support.

We are not withdrawing support now.

Not in this session?

No.

You were saying elections would be held in November but you won’t withdraw support in this session. How is that possible?

They themselves will hold elections in November.

You are tough sometimes and weak sometimes. People say you are wheeling-dealing clandestinely, like you took a tough stand on Beni Prasad Verma, demanding his resignation, but kept quiet later.

Soniaji today is a big leader of a big party. She came to my chair. They have people who act in such a manner, and then their national president has to apologise. I did not like the fact Soniaji had to apologise because it was not her fault. Kamal Nath also criticised the comments and apologised.Soniaji told you with

folded hands and you supported Pranab Mukherjee;

Soniaji told you with folded hands and you withdrew your demand for his (Verma) removal from the Cabinet.

I didn’t want to act big. It was due to the large-heartedness of Soniaji that I agreed.

In Uttar Pradesh, you say that bureaucrats are not working. You put your son under pressure. He is your obedient educated son, don’t you think this curbs his freedom?

There is no check on his freedom.

It doesn’t seem he has full freedom, he has to ask his uncle, father etc.

Can I do this being a party president? We won because of our party’s principle and our stance against corruption. Hence, if I see faults happening, then it is my right to say it. Government is not above party, party is above government.

Will you make a Third Front?

That is automatically formed after elections.

Will it not be formed pre-poll?

It can’t be, as there would be feuds over tickets in that case.

How many seats would SP win?

Let elections be held today or late, we will win so many seats that government would not be formed without its support.

Will there be no prime minister from the SP ever?

How can this be said? The party may grow stronger in future.

SP can become so strong that it can stake claim to PM’s post.

That can happen if big parties support us, which they will not.

You’ll not take BJP’s support, Congress will not support you, then you will support Congress.

We will try for third front. Deve Gowdaji had become PM of third front government.

In 2014, the PM will neither be from the Congress nor the BJP.

Yes, from neither of them.

Mulayam Singh Yadav on Teekhi Baat, IBN7/September 22, 2012

'Manmohan should not threaten the Opposition'

Interview with  Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for Teekhi Baat on IBN 7.

PC: Is it true that your party men believe that you should be and are going to be future Prime Minister

MSY: I cannot speak on this issue because becoming a Prime Minister is not an ordinary thing. And if there is a feeling among party workers, some journalist friends, I respect those feelings.

PC: If you get a chance, you will keep in mind the feelings of party workers. You said it is difficult, but what if you get a chance?

MSY:  I don’t see any chance.

PC: Don’t your party men believe that your number of MP’s will increase

MSY: Lok Saba members would increase. But till now I have not thought whether I would become Prime Minister. And it is true that I have not even thought.

PC: Not you’ve started to think after sensing emotions of party workers

MSY: Not thought.

PC: You made Deve Gowda the Prime Minister

MSY: It is true that I supported Deve Gowda saab.

PC: You supported Gujral saab too

MSY: I did, and Comrade Surjeet was with me, he extended support.

PC: Surjeet also proposed your name

MSY: Surjeet also proposed my name. But when I took Deve Gowda’s name, then Surjeet saab supported me.

PC: Then why didn’t you become

MSY: Both of us together supported Deve Gowda

PC: When he took your name first, you should have become PM

MSY: Now there were some people

 PC: They opposed you

 MSY:  They opposed me

PC: You don’t want to take their names

MSY: There is no need to take their names

PC: One of them is no more

MSY: The whole country knows the name

PC: Nobody knows, only if you tell

MSY: The whole country knows

PC: I don’t know, I was around then

MSY: It is not the moment to tell now

PC: One of people who opposed is not around now

MSY: Leave that issue.

PC: Let me come to the current political scenario, you would have listened to Prime Minister’s speech yesterday. He said that we will not take back the decisions on FDI, hike in diesel prices and other works that we did, and will take more tough measures. Do you agree?

MSY: Prime Minister should not issue threats in this manner. He said that the decisions taken are in farmers interest, but they are against the interest of farmers. The whole decision is anti farmer. Farmers would be the worst affected due to this.

PC: But he threatened and said that the people who are misleading by opposing, now even you are opposing this policy. Hence, Mulayam Singh Yadav, or other parties who were opposing these things are really misleading people

MSY: We were not alone to oppose it, there were 8 parties. The whole opposition was opposing.

PC: Are you misleading

MSY: It is a democracy, in a democracy Prime Minister should have called opposition leaders to make them understand and explain what he wanted to say, that this is our policy. We could have also given our opinion regarding some changes needed. Then it would have been good and the Prime Minister’s respect would have increased. But Prime Minister is threatening now, that is why we are opposing.

PC: Will you reply to the threat

MSY: Being a Prime Minister and speaking in this manner with the opposition was not good

PC: He also said that money does not grow on trees,  the expenditure of the government has increased.

MSY: Don’t know if he was angry or what was the reason. But looking at the way he was speaking, he did not seemed normal. Prime Minister is Prime Minister, if he says, we will listen, to disagree with oppose policies if the job of the opposition. But he should have spoken in a good manner, and told the opposition that they should speak to him if they had any doubts. He should have explained them that he is taking bringing these policies in the interest of the country, farmers and poor people.  

PC: Watching the Prime Minister’s speech, you felt that not a Prime Minister, but an economist was speaking

MSY: Prime Minister was speaking

PC: But his language

MSY: The language of the Prime Minister should not be such. ]

PC: You don’t agree, nobody should be threatened

MSY: Take it as threat or their resolve to do it.

PC: He made it clear yesterday, you do any amount of dharna, protests, on the streets, we will further increase rates, keep the economic policies going, then Mulayam Singh Yadav, who will with poor and farmers

MSY: I am clear I will speak for the public. Will go among the people, tell them the decision is against the interest of the farmer, poor and labourers. If the government could have not done anything else, they should have said that they will give employment so many people by bringing this policy, who will they give employment, they should give employment to unemployed. If we talk about shop keepers and traders, the trader poor fellow will work for them. He has not business other than the trade he does.

PC: What pressure you would build on the government to take back these policies

MSY: Let them take back the policies or not, we will keep on saying that the policies are not in interest of the nation.

PC: Will you put no pressure for taking them back

MSY: They have refused to take them back.

PC: You can bring a proposal in the Parliament

MSY: We will oppose in parliament when the session is held.

PC: If you have 20-22 MP’s you can bring a proposal demanding that the government should go back on these steps

MSY: We will speak against their policies which are wrong. But we work to keep communal forces at bay, and if will pull out support now

PC: I am not talking of support, I am telling that the government will not fall if you bring a proposal to take back these policies

MSY: We will oppose

PC: But not brig a proposal

 MSY: When the Lok Sabha session is on, we will call a party meeting and take a decision on this. Then there are leaders of other parties, we will speak to them, it will not work if we are alone

PC: Mamta said she will bring a proposal that these policies need to be withdrawn, she is not communal, you don’t consider he to be communal?

MSY:  Mamta is not communal, she is secular. On many occasion, she has supported me against communal forces

PC: If she bring a proposal that FDI should be rolled back, diesel prices should lessened.

MSY: We will not oppose the proposal tabled by Mamtaji.

PC: Will you support it or not

MSY: What does it mean if I am saying I will not oppose

PC: No no, what if you abstain

MSY: No we will not oppose her proposal. We will also call a meeting of our parliamentary board. There is still time for that.

PC: You will not oppose, the party will decide whether you will support Mamtaji’s proposal or not

MSY: We will support, and it may be possible that our party tables the proposal

PC: This can happen

MSY: Can happen

PC: Because parliament has not vetted the decision that have been taken. Many times parliament does not vet such policies because government has powers to pass such orders

MSY: It is a straight thing, I we oppose, we will oppose it everywhere. May be if the government is enlightened, they will take back the policy before a proposal is tabled.  

PC: You are saying that you are supporting this government as communal forces may come to power. How can a BJP with 116 seats form a government Mulayam Singhji, you made an excuse?

MSY: Even other people are supporting them.

PC: Till you don’t support the government cannot be formed

MSY: Others are supporting them

PC: Even then the tally is 150

MSY: No, it is more than 150

PC: May be 160, 180, you have to make it clear to people and media that a government of communal forces cannot be formed in this Lok Sabha. You are not withdrawing support, when according to you all policies of Congress are anti people, anti aam aadmi,

MSY: We will vote against these policies, will speak against these policies. We will do all that

PC: But you will not withdraw from the government

MSY: It is not the time to withdraw support from the government. We will oppose the anti people proposals that they are bringing and will vote against them.

PC: You have given a letter of support to the President

MSY: We have given support to run the government, have we given it from them to bring what ever proposal they want and do whatever they want to do.

PC: Have you extended support to run the government or in the interest of the common people

MSY:  We will support whatever is in the interest of the common man and will oppose anti people policies.  

PC: Do you consider the incumbent government anti people or not, today’s policies

MSY: The policies that are being proposed are anti people, and we will oppose these policies

PC: In the house also

MSY: In the house and among the people.

PC: But will not go to the President to write a letter

MSY: No, that is a different thing.

PC: It is anti people you said

MSY: We will oppose in the Lok Sabha and outside.

PC: You said that you will support the proposal in the Lok Sabha (Mamta’s proposal)

MSY: We cannot oppose it, when her proposal is tabled, against the anti people policies, how can we oppose it. We ourselves are opposing it. When Samajwadi Party is opposing it, then how can we oppose the proposal?

PC: Whatever proposals a secular party tables, that you will support, but not others.

MSY: They will oppose, we will also oppose. Both of us together will oppose.

PC: As a proposal and otherwise too

MSY: Yes, even our party can bring a proposal. Now we will decide how we will oppose, they party will decide

PC: I feel that you are still not clear whether to trouble the government or not

MSY: I never go into confusion, we too have a party and a big party, the third largest, but the parliamentary board will decide. Now we will decide on the proposal that is to be tabled (by Mamta). But now we will not withdraw our support to the government.

 PC: You will not oppose the proposal that Mamta will bring

MSY: We will not oppose, may be our party may bring the proposal.

PC: To roll back the policies

MSY: Yes. And in the Lok Sabha we will tell the Prime Minister, the government to take back the policies. From your medium, we appeal to the Prime Minister, let this time not come in the Lok Sabha, before that take back the proposal.

PC: Otherwise you can bring a proposal in the Lok Sabha

MSY: To bring a proposal, not bring a proposal, or oppose it, is one and the same thing.

PC: But you appealed to the Prime Minister that withdraw before the Lok Sabha session, let that time not come

MSY: Yes, we will oppose.

PC: After that he will be responsible for what happens in the Lok Sabha

MSY: We will oppose, that is why we want them to take back earlier. 

Teekhi Baat with Mulayam Singh Yadav/June16, 2012/IBN7

In this interview, Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav has made a revelation that he personally met Sonia Gandhi, escaping the media glare; in the meeting the name of Pranab Mukherjee as the nominee for upcoming Presidential elections was finalized.

Hello! our guest for today on Teekhi Baat is national president of Samajwadi Party Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is affectionately known nomenclature is ‘Netaji’. Netaji welcome to our studio

MSY: Thank You, Prabhuji!

PC: Netaji, you have shown that you are a real Neta. Please tell me one thing, how did your mind change. First day you read out the name of APJ Abdul Kalam, other names, and in 48 hours you did something opposite of what you said

MSY: I did not do opposite of what I said, people may not know, but one Congress leader knows. One month earlier, there were discussions about the upcoming Presidential elections, in which I had taken Pranab Mukherjee’s name, then Congress leader said that you took name, I said that he is a very intelligent and mature personality, hence I agree on Pranab Mukherjee’s name.

PC: You mean to say you had suggested his (Pranab Mukherjee’s) name a month earlier.

MSY: Yes

PC: You are saying big leader, it means you had told this to Soniaji

MSY: No, big leader,

PC: Which other big leader is there in Congress

MSY: No, there are many big leaders

PC: What is the issue in telling the name, now there is no secret?

MSY: Laughs

PC: One month ago, when you had met Soniaji, when you had food together, did the incident happen during that meeting

MSY: Laughs…If you have understood, then it is ok

PC: If not then, you would have met separately.

MSY: No, there was a meeting, it is correct that I had put forth the name (Pranab Mukherjee) before Soniaji

PC: Yes

MSY: I put forth saying that he is the best in the Congress party, who can be the Presidential candidate.

PC: Then why together with Mamta you suggested three more names

MSY: No in politics situation change sometimes, and other leaders have to be kept together. Had taken opinion of other leaders, thought is may be possible that other leaders have a consensus about one of the three names. But they did not agree on the three names

PC: You said the name of Pranab Mukherjee from the start. You could have said his name, but when you took three names with Mamtaji, it seemed you went with her

MSY: Did not put forth names, only gave suggestions

PC: You suggested three names

MSY: One name I had already suggested.

PC: Yes

MSY: One name I had already suggested to Soniaji.

PC: But in the three names, there was no fourth name, which you could have kept.

MSY: But the name I suggested first went through

PC: But the day you did press conference, let the misconceptions be cleared

MSY: When It seemed that Pranab Mukherjee’s name is not coming forth, then Manmohan Singh is fine, Somnath Chaterjee, Kalam is fine. I took three names, Mamtaji too took three names. But later came to know that Pranab Mukherjee’s name is acceptable. Hence, I had already agreed to Pranab Mukherjee’s name and talked about it.

PC: When you announced on Wednesday, at night you met

MSY: Kalam refused stating that he does not want to be the candidate,

PC: He never did that

MSY: Yesterday, he did

PC: No

MSY: Today, it is in the newspapers

PC: From Nitish Kumar’s sources it is understood that he said nothing. But on Wednesday, you announced and the same evening, may be, you met Soniaji,

MSY: Soniaji said that you had taken his name (Pranab Mukherjee’s)

PC: You had gone and met her on Wednesday

MSY: Met her

PC: Did you met her at her residence or the Prime Ministers

MSY: I meet many times, did not meet her one time, Soniaji

PC: No, you met her in the evening on the day you announced Kalam’s name

MSY: No, not on that evening,

PC: You did not meet on Wednesday

MSY: No

PC: It means when you announced the name with Mamta, you did not meet Soniaji after that

MSY: After that I met

PC: I am taking after that

MSY: After that when I met, then they put forth Pranab Mukherjee’s name, and I had suggested his name (Pranab Mukherjee’s) name earlier.

PC: The day you suggested three names, that very evening

MSY: That suggestion they did not agree to

PC: Did you go to meet (Soniaji)

MSY: Did not go to meet, but I got to know that the three names are not acceptable to them. But when I met her, she said that you had taken Pranab Mukherjee’s name first,

PC: Which means you met Soniaji only once after that

MSY: Only once

PC: On the day you went to Agra

MSY: A day before I went to Agra

PC: A day before was Wednesday

MSY: A day before I went to Agra

PC: You had gone in the evening a day before your Agra visit, before that some people would have come to meet you on her behalf. Had some people met you on behalf of Soniaji.

MSY: No, nobody else met me.

PC: Some ministers would have come, Ahmed Patel would have come,

MSY: No, nobody came. When I am speaking to Soniaji directly, then what was the need for anybody to come

PC: Then Soniaji said that you had taken the name (of Pranab Mukherjee), and she also suggested his name, and you agreed

MSY: No, I have met Anthony and Ahmed Patel.

PC: Together or separately

MSY: Separately

PC: After that meeting you met Soniaji

MSY: After that I met Soniaji

PC: You would have gone on Wednesday evening at 10 Janpath

MSY: I met Soniaji

PC: But the journalists did not come to know, did you meet secretly

MSY: I did not want to go after alerting journalists

PC: I am asking because camera-wallahs are there outside her house all the time, it seems you would have used the other gate

MSY: Laughs…..would have gone anyhow …but I met.

PC: Nobody was with her that time, who was with you, Ram Gopaljee

MSY: No, nobody was there

PC: Alone

MSY: Alone

PC: Who was with her

MSY: hmm

PC: With Soniaji

MSY: Nobody was with her

PC: How long did the meeting last

MSY: For a long time

PC: There would have been discussions on other issues too

MSY: No, no discussions on other issues.

PC: Only on the issue of Presidential elections

MSY: Only on the issue of Presidential elections

PC: What were you both talking for such a long time

MSY: Talks happen, when two people in politics meet, talks happen

PC: Now this meeting with Soniaji happened for the first time you met Soniaji at the dinner, there was not meeting in between.

MSY: No, there was no meeting in between

PC: Then there would have been many issues to talk about

MSY: Talks keep on happening

PC: Was there some other talks and decisions taken that time, please tell me the truth

MSY: No there was no talk on any other issue

PC: You spoke for such a long time

MSY: No there was no other political talk

PC: There was such a long talk on Pranab Mukherjee

MSY: It was important to talk on Pranab Mukherjee, because we had announced three names, Mamtaji and me together. Then I had understood that Pranab Mukherjee’s name is not being put forth. Hence, there is Manmohan Singh, Somnath Chaterjee, Kalam saab. These were also three good names, thought they may accept anyone from the three. But they made clear that they don’t want to accept Manmohan Singh’s name. But it is true that I had earlier discussed the name of Pranab Mukherjee with Soniaji.

PC: But did Mamtaji tell you that Pranab Mukherjee’s name had been put forth

MSY: Mamtaji, gave only three names when we met face to face.

PC:Both of you gave three names, but when Mamtaji told you, she had come to meet you after meeting Soniaji, after that

MSY: I don’t know, I did not ask her from where she is coming from.

PC: But she would have told you that she is coming after meeting Soniaji

MSY: No, did not tell

PC: Did not tell

MSY: Did not tell

PC: That she is coming after meeting Soniaji

MSY: Didn’t tell

PC: It was running on tv, live press conference

MSY: Something running on television is other issue. But when I and Mamtaji spoke, there was no mention.

PC : Hence Mamtaji did not tell you that she is coming after meeting Soniaji, and she had suggested names

MSY: I did know that she had gone to meet Soniaji

PC: But she did not tell you when she came to meet you

MSY: But I knew that she is coming after meeting Soniaji

PC: That you know, but she did not tell

MSY: Now what is the need for telling, I knew.

PC: If she would have told you that Pranabjee’s name has been taken, you would have said yes then

MSY: I did not ask what Mamtaji and Soniaji spoke regarding Pranab.

PC: She also did not tell you

MSY: She did not tell me

PC: But when you changed you mind, that you will support Pranabji, then you told Mamta when she had come to meet you on the second day, when you did not come out.

MSY: Mamtaji did not know that I have already told Pranabji’s name to Soniaji. Mamtaji did not know

PC: You did not keep your word, she also did not keep her word

MSY: Laughs.

PC: When she came to meet you on the second day, then you did not tell her that I have told Pranab’s same, now please move from the scene

MSY: That happened a long ago.

PC: No, am talking of when she came to meet you on the second day. She met you on the day you announced three names and again came to meet you on the second day.

MSY: Yes

PC: Did you tell her that you have changed your mind and you have already told Pranabji’s name.

MSY: No I did not tell that day

PC: Did no tell her

MSY: Did not tell her

PC: She came out, you did not

MSY: I did not come out.

PC: You did not tell her

MSY: I did not tell her. After that I spoke to Soniaji.

PC: After that you spoke to Soniaji

MSY: After that

PC: You are always with minorities, you credibility is good, don’t you feel that you changed your mind and removed Kalam’s name, who has come from minority, and got Mukherjee. Hence, don’t you feel that a wrong message will go to the minorities?

MSY: How can you say that when our party does not have the strength to make a minority one to the post

PC: You all together could have made

MSY: All together, do you think all with agree to me. Earlier, situation was when I took Kalam’s name, Ataji accepted, Atalji’s party was big, and NDA was in majority, hence Kalam saab became. But this time neither Congress party not we have power. Then how could what I said been agreed to. There is UPA, NDA and were are neither in NDA and UPA.

PC: You cannot go to NDA

MSY: NDA, UPA we cannot join either of them.

PC: But Mamtaji is part of UPA

MSY: Samajwadi Party is alone.

PC: You are supporting UPA government

MSY: We are supporting UPA government but, we are not in UPA.

PC: You are out of UPA, but please tell me one thing, people talk many things, among newspaperwallahs too that you were threatened, that cases would be done against you,

MSY: Nobody has threatened me, nor I get afraid by any threatening. If I would have been getting afraid by somebody threatening us, then the work we have done in politics, could I have come this far.

PC: You are saying that there was no deal, you were not threatened, you had suggested Pranab Mukherjee’s name earlier, hence when she put forth that name again, you agreed.

MSY: It is true, nobody threatened me, nor I have done any deal. I thought a very experienced and intelligent leader, who we have seen in the Lok Sabha, his behaviour as a leader of the house, his decency and simplicity, agreeing to the right thing, it is a big thing.

PC: But Kalam saab is also a good man

MSY: Kalam sahab has already been (President) one time.

PC: When you took Kalam’s name, it seemed he could also have been

MSY: I took his name, but he could not have been

PC: Could not have been, if he could have been would you have supported him

MSY: It would have been a different issue if he could have been. Then it could have been thought of. But I knew that Kalam saab could not have gone through. Because, he did not Congress party’s support.

PC: Without Congress’s support too he could have won. Congress has 20-25 per cent votes , not more

MSY: They have votes, UPA has majority

PC: If there is no Mamta and Mulayam’s support,

MSY: But UPA is in majority. If we don’t support, UPA is still there.

PC: Then the government will fall. If you don’t support the government will fall Netaji

MSY: UPA has majority,

PC: UPA is not in majority

MSY: No, it is in majority

PC: I can make out count the numbers. But coming back to the topic, on this issue there was no pressure, no deal, but why did you compromise

MSY: I personally like Pranab Mukherjee.

PC: How will you benefit

MSY: On such occasions, profit or loss is not seen

PC: You said that there is no deal, but there are whispers that there would have been suggestions for Mulayam Singhji becoming Vice President. He can become in this manner

MSY: There is no question. There is no question of me becoming Vice President. There is no question of being part of the government

PC: Samajwadi Party will keep on giving support from outside, will not be part of the government

MSY: Will not be part of the government

PC: In 2014

MSY: In 2014, Samajwadi Party will contest elections on its own

PC: Before 2014, you will not withdraw support, under any circumstances.

MSY: There question of withdrawing support arises when they do any anti national thing, any anti people thing, then this can be thought of. Till they are not doing nay anti national, anti people thing, till then support is there

PC: Mayawatiji has said that this government is anti people, but she will keep on supporting it. You think government is not any people, inflation is not increasing, petrol prices are not increasing, there is no corruption, this government is good.

MSY: No, the government is not very good. But issue question is that it is not fair to hold elections now.

PC: But the way you have won in UP, the people of UP have given you such a big mandate, don’t you think that people would like to send your people thinking that it should have an influence at the centre, or will you keep on blackmailing from outside

MSY: Will prepare for 2014 so that Samajwadi Party members win lok sabha seats with huge majority.

PC: You can have losses of supporting Congress till 2014.

MSY: Our support is on fair, unfair. If there is some unfair issue, we cannot support it.

PC: If you have to give this government number on a scale of 10, how many will you give this government?

MSY: It is true that inflation has increased during the tenure of this government, the government has not been able to stop corruption,

PC: Is the government fail or pass.

MSY: The people would give marks to the government in the test in 2014,stating whether it is good or bad.

PC: No I am talking of today

MSY: As far as we are concerned, we are supporting on only one issue, no to let the communal forces come forward.

PC: Communal forces, BJP has 116 seats, from where they would be able to form the government

MSY: There is NDA, there are many parties in addition to BJP

PC: 148 are there in total in NDA

MSY: How many in NDA

MSY: 148

PC: How can the government be formed with 148 seats

MSY: There is Bal Thackerayjee’s party

PC: But the total is 148

MSY: Even they are supporting

PC: 148 total

MSY: There are other supporters

PC: Where, you are not supporting , Mayawati is not, communists are not. This you are using as an excuse

MSY: The people do not want elections now. The people want elections straight in 2014.

PC: Is the government fail or pass, do Teekhi Baat.

MSY: As far as the government is concerned, the government has not been able to fulfil the expectations of the people.

PC: Could not do

MSY: No

PC: Even then you will keep on supporting it to keep communal forces at bay.

MSY: Only on that issue. You would have seen, when I was giving speeches, did you feel I am supporting. On day one of my colleagues asked, your are criticizing the government so much, and you are supporting, I said No, our support is only to stop Advani sahab . This I have said in the house. I said I have given no support.

PC: You are saying that you are supporting the government to keep Advani saab out,

MSY: That’s all. Like somehow the BJP will bring a no confidence motion, or on any issue, then we cannot support BJP. But on other issues, we have not voted for them,

PC: When you will take back the support,

MSY: No, on many issues I have not supported Congress party

PC: In what condition will you make the government fall, if things came to such a pass

MSY: How can we make it fall,

PC: The day you take back support, the government will be in minority.

MSY: It cannot happen. BSP is supporting

PC: Both together it is 280, if you withdraw, then they are less. But you do not think the time has come to withdraw,

MSY: The people want to see elections in 2014.

PC: Did you make efforts to get some package for your UP government, is there some deal on that,

MSY: UP did not get, till now they have not given one rupee. Pranab Mukherjee was finance minister, did not get any money, then Akhilesh met Prime Minister, even I spoke to Prime Minister, Pranab Mukherjee also, but not getting anything

PC: Tell me one thing , you formed the government, you yourself did not become chief minister, people voted for you, you made your son, why did you do this?

MSY: Akhilesh and my vote is the same.

PC: But till a day before Akhilesh was telling me that you will become

MSY: I have been chief minister for three time, now I have no liking to be chief minister.

PC: Even then people say that let the chief minister be Akhilesh, but the government is of Mulayam Singh, the ministers are his.

MSY: If I am the president of Samajwadi Party, then the party is of SP, the president is for all

PC: But the chief minister runs the government, you can guide him, your blessings can be there, but people feel that even now Mulayam Singh Yadav is running the government

MSY: That is wrong, there is a conspiracy to publicize these things,

PC: You have given him full freedom

MSY: Have given full freedom, and I interfere nowhere. Now I am out since three days, in these four days, I did not speak to Akhilesh pertaining to the government.

PC: But among his ministers there should be young people, which are not there, all are old, people who have worked with you, majority of those people are there.

MSY: No, no he is working in his own manner,

PC: Because with him all uncle ministers are there. Out of fear Akhilesh would not be able to tell them to work, do something.

MSY: No that is not the case, that is not the case, all ministers are working well.

PC: You feel you have given full freedom to Akhilesh

MSY: Full freedom.

PC: You do not interfere at all

MSY: No interfering anywhere

PC: Do you feel he will be successful

MSY: Certainly, I have confidence, he will be successful

PC: Thank you for coming to our studio

MSY: Thank you, Prabhuji !

Little Fish preparing to Eat the Big Old One/ Sunday Standard / May 13, 2012

POWER & POLITICS

The Inverted Politics of Little Fish Preparing to Eat the Big Old one

When Mamata comes calling, the Congress starts crawling. But this time, she didn’t call on any top Congress leader, but merely speculated on an early Lok Sabha poll. Her statements have often created stalemates in governance. Her opinion on a mid-term poll sent shivers down the spine of many UPA partners. On Saturday, senior Congress leaders were seen confabulating on how to dissect the latest long-range M-missile. Since she blamed an unnamed party for holding a meeting to explore the possibility of forcing an early election, well-connected leaders from the BJP and the Congress activated their media, intelligence and corporate connections to find out which is the party that is keen to topple the UPA government. No national party is currently willing to risk an election as they are plagued by internal dissent, ego clashes and misgovernance at the Centre. They want to hang on to power as long as possible. They wouldn’t like to seek a mandate from the people, since they didn’t get one earlier. They are in power thanks to coalition conspiracies, which kept the real leaders out of power.

Expectedly, the Congress was quick to dismiss Mamata’s statement as just another political joke. But there is no doubt that most regional parties want an end to the politically weak and paralysed Centre. Mamata may have decided against disclosing the party’s name, but the capital’s grapevine is giving many twists and turns to her hour-long meeting with Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav in New Delhi two weeks ago. The ostensible reason for the meeting was to discuss presidential possibilities, but they also discussed the implications of a Congress-sponsored candidate losing the election. Both the SP and Mamata’s TMC control 116,861 votes. A collaboration means they can get their candidate elected with the support of either the NDA or Congress.

Undoubtedly, the selection of the candidate will also determine the date of the national election. If the Congress is able to impose its choice on all UPA allies, including the SP, then elections will be held only in 2014. If the allies choose to reject the Congress nominee, it could well be the bugle for Lok Sabha polls in 2013. It is politically expedient for most regional parties to force the UPA to dissolve the current house before 2014. For the past three decades, India hasn’t behaved as one nation when it came to voting for one-party rule. States have chosen parties that jelled culturally, socially and economically. The Congress rules by itself only in one large state—Andhra Pradesh—which elects 42 MPs.

The political calculations of regional parties like the SP, NCP and TMC—which are supporting the government—are simple. The SP led in over 55 Lok Sabha seats in the recent Assembly elections. Even if voters decide to be uncharitable, Mulayam expects his party’s tally to rise from 22 to at least 45, if elections are held before 2014. Currently, he is out of power. If he is able to return with 45 MPs, not only will he dictate the numbers and names of his party’s cabinet portfolios, he may well be a candidate for prime minister. At the moment, he is at the Centre’s mercy over judicial and CBI-related problems. Mamata hasn’t hidden her national ambitions either. She is about to launch a newspaper and a TV news channel. Some of her followers have already spoken about her qualities and virtues. Her honeymoon with voters may have soured, but is not over yet. Didi would like to reap political dividends now, than wait until 2014. According to TMC insiders, if elections are held later this year, the party may win at least 30 of the 48 seats from West Bengal. It currently has only 19 seats.

One leader who is keen to go for elections sooner than later is NCP boss Sharad Pawar, whose party has only nine seats in the Lok Sabha. Though he is the only supporter Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has for obvious reasons, he expects to perform better in Maharashtra and a few other states, and double his tally. He is deeply hurt by the UPA establishment for targeting his party leaders and unleashing various investigative agencies against his ministers at the Centre and the states. Of late, Pawar has been kept out of all crucial government decisions.

If Pawar, Mulayam and Mamata decide to take the plunge, they will also be in position to rope in other regional leaders like former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa and Orissa’s Naveen Patnaik to prevent the Congress from getting their support for its survival and strength. All of them are expected to do better than before. The Mamatas, Yadavs, Patnaiks and Pawars are now looking for a bigger share of the pie. They are the ones who will dictate the agenda and the leadership, and not those who have become leaders without leading any party to victory.

prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com
Follow me on Twitter @PrabhuChawla

Teekhi Baat_Mulayam Singh Yadav on IBN7

With the political war for Uttar Pradesh raging by the day in the run up to the polls in the state, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav speaks to IBN7 for Teekhi Baat . In a no holds barred interview, Yadav minces no words on her bête noire Mayawati, his stance on Muslim reservation, Samajwadi party’s blow hot – blow cold relationship with the Congress party, his relationship with Ajit Singh and about his son and party scion Akhilesh Yadav.

PC: Are you ready for elections

MS: Am fully prepared

PC: Are you or your son fighting elections, tell me the truth.

MS: Neither am I fighting, nor my son, we are making people contest elections.

PC: Which people are you making contest the election?

MS: My brother Satpal Singh will fight.

PC: Who is taking the leadership position in the election?

MS: Samajwadi Party

PC: It is being said that you have decided to rest a bit and let your son take the lead

MS: It is not so. Now the condition is not conducive for me to rest, neither have I gone weak, my health is all right.

PC: Many times decisions are taken from the heart, I have done too much, the politics of our times is over.

MS: I have not got fed up of politics as yet.

PC: Not fed up as yet.

MS: No, not fed up as yet.

PC: People say that Mulayam Singh had taken a decision of allowing Akhilesh take a lead because, Rahul Gandhi, son of Soniiaji Gandhi has come forward in these polls. So, to show that there is a fight between the sons in politics, you took this decision.

MS: This is not my opinion, thinking; neither do I want to get into this issue. Because when the son wanted to come into politics, Akhilesh, then I didn’t stop him, allowed him to be in politics. The result is that he has won Lok Sabha elections three times and I am happy he is elected from the area from where Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia was parliament member.

PC: Akhilesh has won from that area.

MS: Even I had won; I vacated the seat and made Akhilesh fight from the seat.

PC: What do you think, are there any issues in the UP elections, or it is only fought over individuals Mayawati, Mulayam Singh, Rahul Gandhi, there are no issues.

MS: No, there are issues. The first issue is that we will provide a clean government and administration. A clean government will be formed, and our priorities will be farmers, labour, poor people, unemployed, youth, students. Whether it be lawyers or traders, we will take everybody with us, give facilities to everybody, is the plan of our party.

PC: That Mulayam Singhji is saying from the start that everybody will be provided with facilities. But at present, is there any cleaner government than Mayawati’s who has removed all corrupt ministers, 15 of them.

MS: That is why the issue is raised, people have realized in their heart, they are fed up now, that the leaders have become corrupt. This fact has been proved by the chief minister who runs the Uttar Pradesh government.

PC: But the chief minister is at least taking action. No sooner the Lokayukta report comes out, she removes corrupt ministers.

MS: It is not action, it is posturing.

PC: Can removing 15 ministers be called posturing. Have you ever removed ministers on charges of corruption, even then there were allegations of corruption?

MS: During our period, there were no allegations.

PC: Are you saying there were no allegations?

MS: If there were allegations levelled against our ministers, we would have not tolerated it even for a day. Now, elections have come near, and they want to show that they are not doing any corruption. They want to show that when they found their people being corrupt, they punished them. The root of corruption is Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

PC: Have you started any movement against her.

MS: Those removed were unfairly punished, those were the ones who were earning money and giving (to Mayawati).

PC: She says that

MS: Now please tell me, she had kept Kushwah at her residence. She removed Kushwaha, he was staying at her residence. Why any chief minister keep a minister at her residence?

PC: Many ministers are sitting at her residence every day, in addition to Kushwaha many other also sit at her residence. That is her style of working.

MS: She used Kushwaha, collected (money) by keeping him at her residence; he was the most trustworthy. Now what happened, there must have been a fight over a share of the spoils. People say that there has been a fight over a sharing of the spoils.

PC: There has been a fight over the sharing of the spoils?

MS: It is over sharing of the spoils.

PC: That is why he was removed

MS: That is why he was removed

PC: Now BJP inducted him

MS: Now BJP is looking if they get anybody, somehow to win. Now it has become a weak party, the leaders are not happy, now they are inducting whomsoever they get.

PC: The question is that BSP people, they allege that you are not able to tolerate a dalit woman. Like how a dalit woman became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, and she is proving tough on everyone, Congress, BJP, Samajwadi Party.

MS: So, should we stop fighting elections and wind up our party. Are we sadhu sanyasis

PC: One woman has troubled you all

MS: Even Indiraji was a woman.

PC: Then all had come together against her, when Jaiprakashji’s movement started, even you were with him against Indiraji.

MS: It is true, when I saw that dictatorship is dawning upon the country, then we fought against dictatorship with bravery. We were in jail for 19-20 months. And a very dangerous emergency was in force and we fought it, we saved democracy that time. Indiraji had demolished democracy, and forced dictatorship. And it is not a small thing to fight against dictatorship in those times.

PC: You opposed when Indira Gandhi’s Congress brought about dictatorship, which you opposed. I will ask you later about what relations you have with Congress now. Now, I am talking about UP elections, in UP elections, it seems that except for the issue of castes, clan, there is no other election issue.

MS: No Samajwadi party is not into clan and corruption. It is a clean party, there was never a taint on our party.

PC: There is no election issue of corruption there, you people are raking the issues of clan and caste.

MS: How can you say that caste is an issue.

PC: Reservation is being made into an issue.

MS: When we are Samajwadis, and have Samajwadi party, and Samajwadi people don’t believe in caste and clan.

PC: Now you spoke about reservations, that there should be reservation for Muslims. Congress said that Mulayam Singh is not saying anything, how much reservation should be there. Congress said it should be four per cent, you said it is less. Hence you did not make any definitive points about Muslim reservation. You are just saying that reservation should be provided, in Lokpal, in government jobs, you don’t talk of development.

MS: Now we have spoken the most on reservation which has influenced people greatly, we said that there should be 18 per cent reservation for Muslims, instead of 15 per cent. For so many years, the Muslims have remained backward, now it can be reversed when there is 18 per cent reservation for them.

PC: Will you write this in your manifesto

MS: Yes, if our government is voted to power we will give 18 per cent reservation for Muslims.

PC: Why didn’t you provide reservation earlier?

MS: We have always fought for it.

PC: Fought, but did not provide

MS: No, now this is in hands of the central government.

PC: No, like Andhra Pradesh government provided reservation there.

MS: Where was our party alone in power, it was of different people. Many people were part, hence the government was formed. If our government is formed in UP, then with what authority we have and how much reservation we can be according to the laws and constitution, that facility we will give to Muslims.

PC: Hence you are saying that, if it is in your authority, you will give 18 per cent reservation in government jobs to Muslims.

MS: Yes, we will do.

PC: Now you have not announced it as yet.

MS: We have announced it, because they have gone backward, this we are not saying, all the commissions which have been formed by the Congress government have said that. And the report of the commissions have been received by the Congress government, let it be Ranganath Mishra or Sachchar Committee.

PC: Sachchar sahab has recommended

MS: Sachchar committee has recommended. Let the recommendation be of 10 per cent of 15 per cent, I am not concerned with that. But one thing is true that they have done hard work, and found out how backward Muslims have become. And it went to the extent that Muslims became even more backward than dalits, this is written in Sachchar committee report.

PC: Mulayamsinghiji, Sachchar has written that, you are demanded that Muslims should be given 18 per cent reservation. But the Constitution has mandated that reservation should not be more than 50 per cent, then from where would be carve out this 18 per cent.

MS: This is an excuse, the constitution can be amended.

PC: No, it is the Supreme Court’s judgement that reservation cannot be more than 50 per cent.

MS: Now Supreme Court did that, but if the parliament wants, it can amend, the court has not prohibited amendment. Supreme Court has not prohibited amendments by Lok Sabha.

PC: So, can do more than 50 per cent reservation if a government is formed with your help at the centre.

MS: We will certainly do 15 per cent, and will make efforts to make it 18 per cent.

PC: It will be more than 50 per cent, if 27 per cent backward, 18 per cent Muslims, 11-12 per cent scheduled castes, scheduled tribes will take it to 60 per cent.

MS: We will certainly do 14 -15 per cent reservation.

PC: Even by giving 14 per cent reservation, it will be more than 50 per cent.

MS: For taking it up to 18 per cent, we will pass a resolution in the assembly, and we will tell the central government to pass an amendment.

PC: Hence you agree that you do politics, to remain in power in the name of reservation. You demand votes in the name of reservation, whether it be Muslims, or backward, or harijan.

MS: This is wrong. When I was in seventh class I had had food at the house of a backward class and I was banished in social circles for doing that. And in ninth class, I had food at the house of a Jatav, for which I was banished from social circles again, for one month. Hence, I am fighting from the time I was a child.

PC: Mulayam Singh, you never said that there should be reservation for poor, whether he be Muslim or Hindu, Sikh, Christian or backward or scheduled caste. Hence, it seems there should be no reservation or poor people.

MS: I have demanded 10 per cent reservation for upper class poor, in the assembly. And we passed a resolution to the effect and sent it to the government at the centre.

PC: Hence reservation should be for poor people in upper castes, and rich people in other caste.

MS: That is there in the constitution.

PC: That means if anybody is scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, backward, rich people belonging to those castes will get the benefit of reservation.

MS: They are backward.

PC: Why everywhere you don’t have reservation

MS: They have suffered, had no respect in society, and there is poverty, and I have no objection against the ones who have moved ahead. They have to go ahead. But those who have got left behind, should get special opportunity.

PC: Apply income criteria on backward, Muslim, that people above certain income should not get reservation.

MS: This you have to understand, even if people from backward class are rich, but he does not get as much respect, as people from upper caste.

PC: It means that the politics of reservation will go on in this country.

MS: No it is not mere politics of reservation. It is about farmers, jobless people, let them be of any caste. In are Kanyadaan scheme, we had made no distinction on basis of caste, all were given benefit.

PC: On development indicators, Mayawati did a lot of development in UP, made good roads, made statues, but made good parks.

MS: If roads have been built, do a survey, they have been made during our governments time. This government has made no road in five years. Those which have been made, have been destroyed in six months. And even after nine years, the roads made during are tenure are in good shape.

PC: In nine years, four years you were in power.

MS: Out government lasted for quarter to four years. And for five years the present government is running. Now see the roads made by us during our tenure, they are still in good shape.

PC: If your government and politics was good, then why people left you, like Ajit Singh,

MS: Nobody left. Don’t ask me where he goes how and why.

PC: But why you had taken him if you know how many times he goes here and there.

MS: No, we had majority, but he wanted to join us and the love that Chaudhary saab had for us, he made us go ahead, hence it was in my mind that he (Ajit Singh) is his son. I said that he is the son of our leader, hence let him say anything, I will not reply, will give him respect. Hence, for keeping his respect, we kept him (Ajit Singh)with us.

PC: He betrayed you.

MS: Now say it was betrayal or say he went away.

PC: You have no presence in western Uttar Pradesh, you took him so that you can get some votes. You used to depend on him, he did not depend on you.

MS: Now we are not depending on him. And we will not talk about him because he is the son of our leader. If I start saying then there are many things, but I will not say.

PC: Even Rashid Alvi, he was an old timer with you.

MS: When somebody gave Rajya Sabha seat, he left. Earlier he was offered Rajya Sabha, he left, again he got Rajya Sabha seat, he left again. Now, this is betrayal.

PC: Do you think you will get majority.

MS: Certainly, Samajwadi Party will get majority in elections.

PC: But people say you did not project whether Mulayam Singh will become Chief Minister or Akhilesh will become one.

MS: Everybody in the party knows who will become.

PC: Even you tell.

MS: Why should I tell, our whole party worker base knows that who will become chief minister.

PC: It means you have decided who will become chief minister.

MS: The people know.

PC: I am not asking the name, but your party has decided who will become.

MS: It is not decided in our party, it is understood.

PC: It is understood that Mulayam Singh will become.

MS: Laughs

PC: Nobody other than him can become

MS: That is dependent upon the MLA’s.

PC: Now you are saying MLA’s, earlier you were saying the party has decided. But don’t you feel after many years, in the UP elections, Samajwadi Party has not stars campaigning, no businessmen. Does Mulayam Singh feel it was a fault to get stars and ask votes for you, now only you are asking for votes?

MS: The wishes of the real stars are with Samajwadi party.

PC: Earlier they used to come for voting, they were also you brand ambassadors.

MS: Then I was not alone, there were other people, because of them they used to come and go.

PC: You used to call, hence they used to come. Now you have no need of Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Ambani.

MS: Amitabh Bachchanji has left politics. Hence I will not comment, there will be very few people like Amitabh Bachchan, I know him.

PC: His good wishes are with you.

MS: His good wishes are there, I don’t want to trap him into the political world. But people like him are few in the country.

PC: Let me ask you straight, let say he was Karan, or Arjun, but you are missing Amar Singhiji in the elections.

MS: Now that he had gone, he has gone.

PC: No, he used to help a lot in elections.

MS: Yes he used to help in elections.

PC: Now you may be missing his presence.

MS: Now I have left it to the people, the people will help us.

PC: No, the people will help, but aren’t you missing him.

MS: I will appeal to people, that I have no money, earlier Amar Singh used to collect, which is true.

PC: Amar Singh used to collect.

MS: He used to collect, he used to take donations, he used to be of big help for the party.

PC: Hence you use to depend on him.

MS: Now we are appealing that the people will make our candidates fight elections. I have no money, nor my party, hence you (the people) will make them fight elections. The people will make our candidates fight, I have full faith in the people.

PC: Earlier it used to be said in discussions that Samajwadi Party is a party of big businessmen, capitalists, now it has become real Samajwadi party.

MS: Even then the party was not in the hands of big businessmen and capitalists. Amar Singh was not big businessman, he used to do some small business. He was not a big businessman.

PC: Till now you are with the Congress government which is in power, you are supporting Congress.

MS: That we are supporting, you know, we are doing that because, we have to stall communal forces.

PC: Now like Rahul said something about Akhilesh, hence you have enemity and friendship both. Hence, it can be labelled opportunism, as, BJP cannot come to power now, hence, your argument of stalling communal forces does not stand.

MS: Now we are supporting the Congress to stop the BJP from coming to power. It is true that the Congress is not doing good behaviour with us, but we are doing politics of principle. Hence, even if they don’t look after us, we stand by our principle.

PC: They keep on slapping you, even then you are standing with folded hands in front of them.

MS: No issues, they are against us.

PC: Then why are you supporting them.BJP government cannot be formed now in the centre, they have 114 MP’s how can their government be formed.

MS: No, no, there are parties supporting them.

PC: 150 total

MS: Not 150, it is more.

PC: 160, even if you add your 20, even there the government cannot be formed.

MS: No, no, it could have been formed. Many parties could have gone with them, I will not unnecessarily take their names and annoy them. Many parties could go with them.

PC: If you withdraw support, then the Congress government will fall, but the question is that you don’t want to make the government fall.

MS: Now why to make the government fall when the elections are coming near.

PC: Elections are in 2014.

MS: There are only two years left for 2014.

PC: Hence you will not withdraw support.

MS: No, we will not withdraw support.

PC: Till 2014, you will not withdraw support to the Congress

MS: Till 2014 will not withdraw support.

PC: Will you take their support to form a government in UP.

MS: Now we are fighting alone, Samajwadi Party is fighting elections alone on its own strength.

PC: If you don’t win majority

MS: The imaginary question that you have posed, what answer will I give to that.

PC: The condition is that you will not get majority.

MS: We are in such a position that we will get clear majority.

PC: Earlier, it (majority) did not come, so if it does not come this time, then Congress doors are open?

MS: This will be thought later, but we have full confidence that the people will give us clear majority.

PC: You can take anybody’s support, except BJP’s and BSP, to form government.

MS: We will get clear majority, hence we will not need anybody’s support.

PC: No, to keep communal forces out, you will help anybody to form the government.

MS: No, our government will be formed, it will be of Samajwadi party.

PC: This is a imaginary, that your government will be formed. Now I am asking another imaginary thing, if you don’t get majority, what you will do.

MS: We are among people and have understood that people will fully support Samajwadi Party.

PC: Now I ask you the last question, if you don’t get majority in the elections.

MS: We will get majority.

PC: If it (majority) does not come, will it be Akhilesh’s or your defeat.

MS: We will get majority.

PC: If it does not come, then whose defeat would it be, party’s or Akhilesh’s

MS: Then it will be our party’s.

PC: Let’s see, our good wishes are with you, thank you for coming to our studio.

MS: Thank you Prabhuji !