New Delhi: In a surprise development, Samajwadi Party leader and veteran Parliamentarian Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday wished that Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister once again after the Lok Sabha elections.
Though it remained unclear if he earnestly backed the incumbent PM for the coveted post or was extending the customary courtesies on the last day of the House, as some of his supporters claimed, Mulayam’s comments sent the opposition into a tizzy. TV footage showed former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, seated next to the SP leader, smiling at him.
Mulayam remarks came moments before the lok Sabha was adjourned sine die. The treasury benches were seen thumping the desk with chants of “jai shree Ram”. Modi was seen accepting the greetings with folded hands.
“Mein kehna chahta hun ki saare sadasya phir se jeet ke aayen.Meri kaamna hai ki pradhaanmantri ji aap phirse pradhaanmantri banein. Mera anubhav hai ki main jab bhi aap se mila, aapne turant mera kaam kiya (I wish that PM Modi, you should become the prime minister again. I have experienced that whenever I met you, you got my work done instantly.)”
Mulayam’s remark came at a time when the whole of the opposition has assembled in New Delhi to lead a protest against the Modi-led Central government. Mulayam’s own SP is also a party of this rally. His son Akhilesh had on Tuesday accused the BJP government of muzzling the citizens fundamental rights after he was stopped from visiting the Allahabad University.
Mulayam’s own party member, however, begged to differ when asked for their reactions. SP leader Ravidas Mehrotra told ANI: I don’t know why he said that. But we want a change of government at the Centre. And we are sure Modi will lose from his constituency.
Mulayam had indulged into an open spat with his son Akhilesh Yadav just before the Uttar Pradesh state elections.
When asked about this unexpected turn of event, or comment, Mulayam’s brother Ram Gopal Yadav looked baffled and disapproved of the notion altogether.
Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) chief Sharad Yadav told India Today TV: “Mulayam ji is not our priority. Modi has already been exposed. Koi kapdey utarna baaki nahin raha abb…”
Congress president Rahul Gandhi also disagrees. In a press briefing about the Rafale jet deal in New Delhi, he said, “I don’t agree with him. But I respect his opinion.”
PM Modi, on his part, also smiled at Mulayam Singh’s assertion and later, in his valedictory address, said he was filled with humility.
