Desperately opportunistic
The politics of the Samajwadi Party has always been opportunistic. Flirtations with the BJP, alliances with the Congress, rhetoric for a third front have characterised the politics of the Uttar Pradesh party that is being run just by two men now, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh. There could not have been a worse display of this opportunism than in the run-up to the UNPA meeting on July 3, where the means really outshone the end. The Congress, desperate to honour its part of the commitment to the US on the civilian nuclear energy agreement has been more than an able partner in this politics of opportunism, as it has struggled to meet each and every demand of the Samajwadi leadership for its support in Parliament. A sad commentary on the office of the Prime Minister that is supposed to be above partisan politics came after a meeting between National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Amar Singh. The PMO, almost immediately, issued a comprehensive statement spelling out its commitment to an independent foreign policy as demanded by the UP leader. This is an amazing departure from all norms, and has to be roundly condemned. The Congress, in a bid to remain in power, is now seeking to cobble together a government of what can be really described as political bits and pieces, each with the ability to demand more than a pound of flesh and bring the politics of blackmail into governance.
The Samajwadi leadership has already run into trouble with the party, a section of which is questioning the authoritarian decision to change established policy. After all, the party was in the forefront against the nuclear deal, and had let it be known through its acrimonious relationship with the Congress, that it would not compromise on the issue. Some MPs have come on record to announce their intention of leaving the Samajwadi party, and it is no secret to those conversant with UP that the workers too will seek accommodation in other parties like the BSP that is waiting to welcome them with open arms. The vote bank of the Samajwadi party, fed on anti-Congress propaganda, will also be destabilised, and while the leadership might buy temporary relief from an early general election, it will approach the polls as and when these take place in a far more weakened state than now.
http://www.newindpress.com/newspages.asp?page=f&Title=First+Editorial&
