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SP redoubles efforts to keep its flock

Special Correspondent

Attempts being made to woo BSP MPs too

3 MPs of SP openly oppose nuclear deal
BSP approaches Afzal Ansari, Budhaulia

LUCKNOW: Amid reports of Chief Minister Mayawati poaching on its territory, the Samajwadi Party has redoubled its efforts to keep its flock together ahead of the impending floor test in the Lok Sabha.

Only three if its 39 MPs, all of whom were elected from Uttar Pradesh, have openly declared their opposition to the nuclear deal. About the remaining MPs, the SP is confident. Its optimism is based on the efforts being made to ensure that they remain within the party fold at least till the trial of strength. Party sources claimed that a simultaneous exercise with Congress “resources” had also been launched to win over some MPs of the Bahujan Samaj Party. The sources claimed that half a dozen MPs were willing to ditch BSP president Mayawati.

Bid to assuage feelings

Insiders in the SP said party president Mulayam Singh contacted some disgruntled MPs, including Afzal Ansari (Ghazipur) and Rajnarain Budhaulia (Hamirpur), to assuage their feelings. He is reported to have informed them of his decision to support the UPA government on the nuclear deal and also of the “danger ahead in the form of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Ms. Mayawati.”

In the other camp, reports indicate, a couple of senior Ministers in the Mayawati Cabinet have approached Mr. Ansari, who is in jail on murder charges, with the offer of BSP ticket to contest the next Lok Sabha elections from Ghazipur.

However, Mr. Mulayam Singh has asked Mr. Ansari’s brother and Samajwadi MLA from Mohammabad in Ghazipur district, Sibghatullah Ansari, to ensure that he votes for the SP.

It is said the BSP has also approached Mr. Budhaulia, who is reportedly unhappy with the former Chief Minister. On Wednesday, the working president of the State unit of the SP and Mr. Mulayam Singh’s brother, Shivpal Singh Yadav, had a long telephonic conversation with Mr. Budhaulia.

“Barring Munawwar Hasan and Jai Prakash Rawat, all Samajwadi MPs will support Mr. Mulayam Singh and vote for the nuclear deal,” said senior leader and Allahabad MP, Reoti Raman Singh.

“I will defy whip”

However, Mr. Budhaulia told a press conference that he would defy the party whip on the floor of the Lok Sabha. Denying that he had rebelled against the party leadership, he said the decision to support the nuclear deal was taken by some party leaders without taking the MPs into confidence. It was “guided by personal interests of some leaders.” Mr. Budhaulia said some other party MPs would also come out against the decision.

Beni Prasad Verma and Raj Babbar, MPs, who parted ways with Mr. Mulayam Singh a couple of years ago, are supporting the UPA government on the deal. Atiq Ahmed, MP from Phulpur, who was expelled from the party in May, is also tipped to vote for the deal given his proximity to Mr. Verma.

When contacted, Mr. Verma confirmed that he would vote for the deal notwithstanding his differences with Mr. Mulayam Singh. “Atiq Ahmed and Raj Babbar will also vote for the nuclear deal,” Mr. Verma told The Hindu from Delhi.

As delimitation altered Lok Sabha constituencies and their caste equations, the disgruntled MPs wanted an assurance of safe seats in the event of a Congress-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

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