Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh on Sunday said that he will not accept party general secretary Amar Singh’s resignation from all party posts.
Speaking to journalists in Kolkata where he called on the ailing CPI-M leader Jyoti Basu, Mr. Mulayam Singh said that things would be mended with Mr. Amar Singh. “Our relations are such that his resignation will not be accepted. Everything will become all right.’’
Mr. Mulayam Singh’s remarks come on the heels of another party general secretary Sanjay Dutt also quitting his party post late Saturday evening. Asked if Mr Dutt would also be persuaded to take back his resignation, Mr Mulayam Singh said, ‘Yes, everything will become all right.’’
On Saturday, Mr. Mulayam Singh’s brother and party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav had suggested that Mr Amar Singh’s resignation from party posts be accepted. “The resignation, coming on the eve of Legislative Council elections in Uttar Pradesh was demoralizing on party workers. He has resigned twice in the past and in my opinion this time it should be accepted,’’ the usually reticent Mr. Yadav told journalists.
The move was seen as testing the waters, with Mr Amar Singh who was quick to react on his blog. Mr. Dutt’s resignation, reported to be given at the behest of Mr Amar Singh, was construed by party’s second-rung leaders as a ‘pressure tactic’ on Mr. Mulayam Singh.
In his blog penned late Saturday night, Mr Amar Singh directly talked about his contributions to the party and about how hard he worked in the Lok Sabha elections despite his poor health which went unrecognised by the party although Mr. Mulayam Singh knows it.
He has also written about the help his “capitalist” friends gave to an ailing senior leader of the party, Janeshwar Mishra, to airlift him to a Delhi hospital from Bhopal, and how he helped Mr Mishra get re-elected to Rajya Sabha recently when he was falling short of a few votes.
Referring to criticism by another old guard leader, Mr Mohan Singh about Mr Amar Singh’s capitalist links in a socialist party, Mr Amar Singh reminded him about the monetary help he provided him during his treatment in London and in elections.
“The decision to quit party posts was mine alone. I did not consult either my wife or any of my friends,’’ he said in his blog.
