Mulayam wishes to see Modi as PM again

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 13

As curtains drew on the 16th Lok Sabha today, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav created a flutter in the House when he said he wished to see Narendra Modi as the PM again, a sentiment acknowledged by the BJP leader with folded hands.

Mulayam’s blessings for the PM were greeted with much applause by the Treasury benches, while those in the Opposition, including UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi seated next to the SP leader, were left astonished. 

“I wish all members — 300-plus of them belong to BJP-led NDA — return to the House… I wish the PM becomes PM again,” said Yadav. 

Modi greeted Mulayam with folded hands. “There is much to do. Mulayam Singhji has given his blessings. I am very grateful to him," the PM said, pitching for a majority government and recounting its merits in the national and international perspective. 

Outside the House, Mulayam ducked questions on his praise for Modi, the blessings having come at a time when his son and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has formed an alliance with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to challenge the BJP in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh that accounts for 80 of the 545 Lok Sabha seats. 

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who was not present in the House during Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's valedictory address, said he disagreed with Mulayam. 

In his speech, Modi took potshots at Gandhi recalling his claim of an "earthquake" (through his revelation on Rafale jet deal). He also recounted Gandhi's "hug" and "winking" epsodes, saying these experiences were new to him as he was a first-time MP. 

He said the country's image had enhanced globally due to the electoral mandate enjoyed by the current dispensation. "India suffered globally for long due to fractured mandates, but it was taken seriously now because of the majority government," he said. 

Difficult ally Shiv Sena too voiced hope that the NDA would return to power at the Centre and so did other allies. Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan said as a "weatherman", as he is referred to owing to his ability to "judge the wind", he was "sure Modi will be the Prime Minister again". 

Meanwhile, leaders cutting across party lines praised Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for the way she conducted the proceedings of the House. Warm vibes were witnessed from AIADMK and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, seen as a prospective ally by the BJP. 

KC Venugopal of the Congress said his party played the role of the Opposition in conveying people's concerns to the government and also cooperated with it when needed.