Hindustan Times
What is Amar Singh upto?
Senior Samajwadi leader Amar Singh appears to be working to a plan to counter the circumstances, which led to his being relieved from several important positions he held in the organization led by his one time leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
His Monday press conference was clearly aimed at provoking Mulayam Singh and his other close associates to expel him from the same outfit where he till the other day called the shots. In particular Amar Singh’s statement that the decision making process in the SP was controlled by five members of the Yadav family was a subtle attempt to show that the Samajwadi Party was a fiefdom of a dynasty. And since he was the only outsider in this family business of politics, attempts had been on to sideline him.
To my mind, Amar Singh has been giving many conflicting signals. On one hand he cites his failing health and desire to be with his own immediate family as the reason for his quitting, on the other he comes out in a combative mode to attack Mulayam’s brother and also criticize his leader by stating that he would be from now onwards a “Samajwadi” (a socialist) and not “Mulayamwadi” as per advice given by senior leader Janeshwar Mishra. Like many people who watch politics very closely. I have not been able to understand why Amar Singh sent his resignation from Dubai. He could have easily given it in person to his long time friend and discussed the matter face to face. Obviously, he knew things were all over and it was his way of putting pressure on Mulayam despite knowing it fully that Mulayam Singh belongs to the old school of politics where pressure or “political blackmail” does not work.
Secondly, if he wants to be with his family, he should be happy that his resignations have been accepted from all the posts and he has been divested of all responsibility. Third, by his own admission he is close to many capitalists and that was also amongst the reasons for his proximity to Mulayam as one would understand. Therefore given his proximity to capitalists, how can he be a “Samajwadi” in the literal sense? I am not saying that being close to industrialists is a crime but the manner in which the present screenplay is sought to be written, it defies logic. I think Amar Singh is a master politician and knows the rules of the game better than many others. He is creating a situation where Mulayam will be left with no option but to expel him. If that happens, he can continue in Rajya Sabha and flirt with other political parties. His options will be open and he can even think of joining Mulayam’s political adversaries just to spite him.
Mulayam Singh understands what Amar is upto as his closeness has made him read the kind of spin which his former man Friday can bowl. He has accepted the developments in his stride and has made it clear that he looked only towards the future and not at the past. He is not likely to allow Amar Singh to have his will and may like to keep him as a MP of his own party so that his whip governs his actions inside the House. Any attempt to defy the whip could lead to Amar Singh’s disqualification under the anti defection law.
The scenario is very much like Antonio Prohias’s Spy Vs Spy in the Mad magazine. Both men are plotting against each other. Mulayam is under pressure from his family to return to his original style of functioning where reliance on glamorous people and corporate houses was less and ideology and grass root politics worked better.
Amar Singh on the other hand is also a symbol of the corporate influence over present day politics where lobbyists and others sway public opinion. But unlike many others, Amar Singh has a very sharp political mind and he can never be written off. Who knows this parting of ways between the two could also spell the end of Mulayam Singh. Future developments will determine the future of these two titans who from close buddies maybe on threshold of becoming sworn enemies. One can never tell in politics?
