Amar Singh goes; Is the party over for Mulayam?

The declining fortunes of the Samajwadi party, the main opposition party in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh, have taken another beating with the resignation of the party’s general secretary and main political strategist Amar Singh.

Political observers feel Amar Singh’s resignation, coming on the eve of Legislative Council elections in Uttar Pradesh, could have a demoralizing effect on Samajwadi Party workers and further damage party’s chances in the State assembly elections.

Once seen as a main rival to the ruling Bahujan Samaj party led by the Dalit leader Mayawati, SP chief Mulayam Singh is clearly running out of steam. His clout among the Muslim community was irreparably damaged when he joined hands with Kalyan Singh, during whose rule as Chief Minister, the disputed Babri Masjid at Ayodhya was razed by Hindu activists in December 1992. Though Mulayam hoped to gain the votes of Lodh community to which Kalyan belonged in the subsequent elections, the move backfired. The upset minority Muslim voters in Uttar Pradesh went over to either the BSP or the Congress.

The recent loss of a by-election seat to the Lok Sabha in which Mulayam had pitted his daughter-in-law at Firozabad, was a big blow to the prestige of the SP leader. It may be recalled that Mulayam had bailed out the previous Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during a crucial confidence vote in Parliament. But after the Congress secured a bigger number of seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and returned to power, SP had been largely ignored by the Congress.

Amar Singh, had been feeling increasingly sidelined by Mulayam’s relatives and decreasing clout in party decisions. Besides, he recently had a kidney operation reducing his physical activity. While Mulayam has claimed that matters would be set right with Amar Singh, party general secretary and Mulayam’s brother Ram Gopal Yadav has said Amar Singh’s resignation should be accepted.

Speaking to journalists in Kolkata where he called on the critically ill veteran CPI-M leader Jyoti Basu, Mulayam Singh said “Our relations are such that his resignation will not be accepted. Everything will become all right.’’

"At the age of 53, I am entitled to Earned Leave," said Amar Singh from Dubai, while announcing his decision to quit from party posts. Citing health reasons, he quit as party general secretary, as national spokesman and from the party’s Parliamentary Board. Amar Singh in his blog also talked about his contributions to the party and about how hard he had worked in the Lok Sabha elections despite his poor health which went unrecognised by the party although Mulayam Singh was aware of it.

“The decision to quit party posts was mine alone. I did not consult either my wife or any of my friends,’’ he said in his blog. He conveyed his decision to a news agency and later to a private television channel. He faxed his resignation letter to Mulayam Singh. Amar Singh is a member of the Rajya Sabha.

In the meantime, following his mentor Amar Singh, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt resigned on Jan 9 as general secretary of the Samajwadi Party claiming he was hurt by the treatment meted out to his “elder brother” by certain leaders of the party. He, however, said he would remain in the party as long as Singh was there.

- Asian Tribune -