Samajwadi Party warming up to Amar Singh?

NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh spoke to UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday, raising speculation if there was a thaw in the relationship between the voluble leader who parted ways with Samajwadi Party after a bitter spat four years ago.

It is learnt that Singh raised the issue of Muzaffarnagar riots with Akhilesh and advised him that Samajwadi Party and its members should avoid controversial statements like calling the people in relief camps as members of political rivals or beggars.

Singh confirmed that he had a chat with the CM but added it was in response to the suggestions sought by Akhilesh on dealing with the post-riot relief and had nothing to do with politics.

The political grapevine is abuzz if there is something cooking between Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav. Singh and SP leadership have softened the bitterness lately and there is also speculation that Singh may go back to his erstwhile party.

It is said Akhilesh recently extended a red carpet welcome to a top film director owing allegiance to Singh and spoke warmly about "uncle", prompting Singh to respond.

The reports about SP-Singh thaw have gained ground ahead of Lok Sabha elections partly because Amar Singh was a key player in projecting Mulayam as leader of the third front ahead of 2009 elections.

However, there are also reports about Singh eyeing a slot in Congress. The problem with the latter is that there is opposition within the party to the entry of the former SP leader who crossed swords with many AICC managers during the brief period of SP-Congress partnership over the nuclear deal as well as during the 2009 elections.

With political grapevine abuzz, speculations are likely to grow in coming days. Political insiders and observers keep a watch on Singh's movement because of his past as well as his abilities to network in the political circles.

Observers find it surprising that Mulayam is nowhere in the political game at the Centre ahead of elections which was not the case when Singh was batting for him.

However, Singh may prefer Congress over SP. "If it becomes a matter of choice, he would go for Congress," sources said.