Kanshi May Team Up With Laloo In Bid To Take On Mulayam

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Kanshi Ram yesterday indicated that his party could extend some measure of political support to Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav.

Kandha to har kisi ko chahiye, (Everyone needs a shoulder to lean on), he said when asked if he would ally with Laloo Prasad.

The question came up after Kanshi Ram refused to comment on the grant of sanction to the CBI to prosecute Laloo Prasad.

He said the matter did not concern him. Let those who are connected with him react, he added.

Laloo Prasad has been in touch with BSP leaders in recent weeks, as he desparately seeks allies for the future.

There has been talk of an anti-BJP, anti-Mulayam Singh alliance in which Laloo Prasad could join hands with the BSP.

The antipathy between Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad has sharpened since the latter stymied the move to make Mulayam Singh Yadav the Prime Minister in April.

The Samajwadi Party has vigorously joined the anti-Laloo Prasad agitation, led by the Left parties, in Bihar.

The Congress could join such an alliance, in Bihar and UP. The AICC spokesperson yesterday said it would be advisable for Laloo Prasad to resign voluntarily to maintain the best democratic traditions, but the Congress did not demand, like the BJP and the Left parties, that Laloo Prasad must quit.

Although the possible new alignment is unlikely to take shape soon, the BSP is certain to be a key element, if and when it comes about.

Addressing newsmen after the BSP national executive meeting and training camp organised for the party workers, Kanshi Ram hit out at Mulayam Singh Yadav and his proposed rally to be held today.

He said it was not the UFs rally but the SPs rally and it would create only problems without solving any.

As a counter to the Lucknow rally, the BSP too has organised a rally today in Etawah, Mulayam Singhs hometown.

Mayawati will tell the people not to make `halla (noise), and not to be swayed by Mulayams `halla bol, Ram said.

The BSP chief indicated that a transition of government in Uttar Pradesh from the BSP government to the BJP government in September, as per the BSP-BJP agreement, would be a smooth affair. He said BJP government will do no wrong. Foreseeing general elections in the near future, Kanshi Ram has already alerted his partymen, and has asked them to hold training camps in all the constituencie. Yesterdays training camp was attended by all BSP legislators, except those from Uttar Pradesh.