The Samajwadi Party and its main political adversary in Uttar Pradesh, the Bahujan Samaj Party — with 43 MPs between them — will weigh the pros and cons of taking any decision on withdrawing outside support to the UPA government at the Centre
While BSP president Mayawati has already said the party executive, meeting on October 10, will take a decision on continuing support to the Manmohan Singh government, the Samajwadi Party would unveil its strategy after Thursday’s “Bharat bandh.”
Though it is in power in the State, the SP will participate in the bandh in a bid to project the Akhilesh Yadav regime as a “government of the common man.” The party has been extremely critical of the of the UPA government’s “anti-people” decisions to hike diesel price, put a cap on LPG cylinders and allow FDI in multibrand retail.
But it has remained non-committal on the issue of withdrawing support to UPA-II. “Support is conditional. The Samajwadi Party has a separate ideology and support was given to the Manmohan Singh government for keeping the communal forces out of power,” said State unit spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary. Sources in the party said the leadership (Mr. Mulayam Singh ) would consider all options before calling it quits.
Asked whether the SP’s backing of the UPA would continue, the Chief Minister said at a press conference on September 15 that a decision would be taken by Mr. Mulayam Singh, but was quick to add, “support to UPA was given to keep the communal forces out of power.” This, after he announced that FDI in retail would not be allowed in Uttar Pradesh.
On the other hand, the former Chief Minister Mayawati, while slamming the UPA government’s reform measures, stated on September 15 that a “BSP mahasankalp rally” would be organised in Lucknow on October 9 (sixth death anniversary of party founder Kanshi Ram), followed by the executive committee meeting on October 10, at which a decision on continuing support to the UPA government would be taken.
But she has been silent in the context of the recent political developments.
Ban film: Akhilesh
Meanwhile, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday shot off a letter to the Prime Minister, asking him to ensure that the “highly offensive” film, Innocence of Muslims, was banned in India.