Countering SP chief Mulayam Yadav’s claim on early Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on Friday told him that there was “no point creating an air of uncertainty or instability where none exists”. Virtually ridiculing the observation, Congress spokesman, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: “There is obviously no guarantee that the sky may not fall on our heads or that Yeddyurappa will stop demanding the chief minister’s chair.” He then went on to add: “The possibility of mid-term polls is as remote as that.”
Mr Yadav’s remarks are bound to give a handle to the Opposition and a section of allies, particularly the Trinamul Congress, which too would prefer a mid-term poll. However, Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has gone on record saying that there “will not be any snap poll”.
Mr Yadav’s statement caught the Congress unaware as the SP had recently rescued the government when Opposition-sponsored amendments to the President’s address to Parliament were rejected.
In Lucknow, responding to slogans of “Pradhan Mantri kaisa ho, Mulayam Singh jaisa ho”, the SP chief said that becoming Prime Minister was not an easy task and if the party workers wanted to fulfil their dreams, they would have to remain disciplined and dedicated while working for the people. “We are committed to fulfilling all the promises that we made in our manifesto and the party and the government will work in tandem to fulfil this goal,” he said.
In a rare gesture in public, Mr Yadav advised son Akhilesh Yadav not to commit the same mistakes that Ms Mayawati had made during her rule. “Governments may be for five years but we have to work beyond five years,” he said.
Meanwhile, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, while speaking at a function, said that his government would bring about the much-needed change in Uttar Pradesh and there was a lot that he would do in the next five years.