It's checkmate, but then foes have become friends

NEW DELHI: Almost all erstwhile foes have become friends on the chessboard of UP politics. Kalyan Singh, who might sit on the Speaker’s chair sooner rather than later, is Mulayam Singh Yadav’s advisor-in-chief at this point of time.
Ajit Singh, who otherwise used to discourage even an oblique reference to the Samajwadi party chief, is now a comrade-in-arm, chalking out joint strategies to fight the ‘‘menace of the blue elephant’’ for good.Sonia Gandhi’s men in Lucknow, who had resolved not to ever share a dais with Mulayam under any circumstances, are now falling over each other to get closer to him.
Indeed, time has come full circle in UP with almost all political forces getting together to lend a helping hand to Mulayam directly or indirectly. While the Congress, the RLD, the RKP, the Communists and the Independents have joined hands openly and vociferously, the BJP has accomplished its job the silent way. Venkaiah Naidu’s party hasn’t put up any road-blocks to slow down Mulayam’s race towards power.
There are three solid political reasons why the BJP hasn’t opposed the SP this time for a change. First, the enemy of an enemy is a friend, more so in politics. Whatever the reasons, Mayawati’s first target of attack is now the BJP. And, on its part, the BJP thinks that Mulayam is naturally the most suited person to hit at the root of the BSP leader’s political interests.
Second, the BJP wanted a breather to prepare for elections. And third, the hard-line Hindutva forces in the Sangh Parivar hold the view that ‘‘Maulana Mulayam’s elevation as chief minister would give them an ‘‘antithesis’’ to fight against at a time when a renewed Ram Mandir movement is about to be re-launched nationally, thanks to the Archeological Survey of India papers which have been presented in the court.