The Hindu : National : Mulayam found himself marginalised

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Wednesday, May 26, 2004

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National

Mulayam found himself marginalised

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 25. The Samajwadi Party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, today resigned his Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. Mr. Yadav submitted his resignation to the Lok Sabha Secretariat. He will continue as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Senior party sources maintain that the decision to contest the Lok Sabha elections was based on the premise that in the event of a hung Parliament the SP chief could have played a pivotal role. However, despite having won 37 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh, both the SP and Mr. Yadav have been left without a meaningful role. Mr. Yadav's resignation has come as no surprise considering that the Samajwadi Party finds itself marginalised at the Centre under the present circumstances.

The Samajwadi Party finds itself in an unenviable position having extended support to the United Progressive Alliance Government, yet totally excluded. The party was hoping that the Congress leadership would come calling for its support, but with its numbers already made up, the Congress has chosen to keep its distance. So much so that even after the SP declared its support, there has been no effort to involve it in the government formation process or make it a part of the ruling alliance. The party has also not been consulted on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

The SP has tried to save face by arguing that it has done its duty to the cause of secularism by helping instal a secular Government and that it is not bothered about any returns for its support.

``We have done our duty. We have always maintained that we will be guided by the CPI(M) and we gave our letter once Mr. Surjeet asked us to," says the party general secretary, Amar Singh.

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