SP slip shods its way to more power
Consistency does not seem to be strong point of the Samajwadi Party. Barely eight months ago the party held that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was ‘not an honourable deal’, but as a chance to further its political aims presented itself, the party...
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: Consistency does not seem to be strong point of the Samajwadi Party. Barely eight months ago the party held that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal was ���not an honourable deal���, but as a chance to further its political aims presented itself, the party is in the process of altering its view.
The Samajwadi Party���s changing position on the nuclear deal owes more to the party���s ambitions to play a bigger role at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh than any real commitment to the nuclear deal.
In the present fractured polity, the NCP���s nine MLAs have more clout than SP���s 39. During the debate on the nuclear deal in Parliament last year, the Samajwadi party positioned itself on the side of the Left parties arguing that the deal was not in India���s interests.
In the Lok Sabha, Ram Gopal Yadav, had questioned the government on why it has not pursued a nuclear deal with Russia. From such a position of stringent opposition, the party seems to have moved to one where it finds merit in the deal in eight short months. This softening of the opposition to the nulcear deal could well be explained by political exigency. Like the Congress, the Samjwadi Party needs to contain the BSP in UP.
The opportunity provided by the Left���s threat of withdrawing support from the UPA government and the BSP���s decision to take back support was the entry point that the Samajwadi Party was looking for. Should the Left withdraw support , these 39 MPs could come in stead if the government has to face a test of survival. The Congress which has 153 MPs, enjoys support of RJD (24), DMK (16), NCP (11), PMK (six), JMM (five) and LJP (four).
Aligning with Congress would give the SP the much needed support it seeks to counter Ms Mayawati and her party. In the last eight months, there has been a change in perception in the Samajwadi Party on the ways in which a partnership with the Congress is likely to help its political project of countering the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. In the last year, the party has consistently positioned itself in the breach that had developed between the Congress and the BSP in UP.
The Samajwadi Party���s changing position on the nuclear deal owes more to the party���s ambitions to play a bigger role at the Centre and Uttar Pradesh than any real commitment to the nuclear deal.
In the present fractured polity, the NCP���s nine MLAs have more clout than SP���s 39. During the debate on the nuclear deal in Parliament last year, the Samajwadi party positioned itself on the side of the Left parties arguing that the deal was not in India���s interests.
In the Lok Sabha, Ram Gopal Yadav, had questioned the government on why it has not pursued a nuclear deal with Russia. From such a position of stringent opposition, the party seems to have moved to one where it finds merit in the deal in eight short months. This softening of the opposition to the nulcear deal could well be explained by political exigency. Like the Congress, the Samjwadi Party needs to contain the BSP in UP.
The opportunity provided by the Left���s threat of withdrawing support from the UPA government and the BSP���s decision to take back support was the entry point that the Samajwadi Party was looking for. Should the Left withdraw support , these 39 MPs could come in stead if the government has to face a test of survival. The Congress which has 153 MPs, enjoys support of RJD (24), DMK (16), NCP (11), PMK (six), JMM (five) and LJP (four).
Aligning with Congress would give the SP the much needed support it seeks to counter Ms Mayawati and her party. In the last eight months, there has been a change in perception in the Samajwadi Party on the ways in which a partnership with the Congress is likely to help its political project of countering the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. In the last year, the party has consistently positioned itself in the breach that had developed between the Congress and the BSP in UP.
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