In rare-sight, Mayawati seeks votes for Mulayam, he thanks her
What's the story
Confirming that politics is an art of impossibilities, BSP chief Mayawati and SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav shared the stage in Mainpuri on Friday. Mulayam's son and party president Akhilesh Yadav also accompanied the former arch-rivals. As Mayawati sought votes for Mulayam, the latter said he would forever remain grateful to her for doing so. Mainpuri is essentially an SP bastion. Here's what happened.
Rally
Earlier, Mayawati addressed rally in Deoband along with Akhilesh
The campaign trail of the unlikely alliance in UP started from Deoband, where Akhilesh, Mayawati and RLD Chief Ajit Singh sought votes. In the rally, Mayawati stoked a controversy when she asked Muslim voters to vote only for her alliance as choosing Congress would divide anti-BJP votes. She ruffled Election Commission's feathers with her rant and was banned from campaigning for 48 hours.
Address
Mulayam said he was happy to share stage with Mayawati
While Deoband rally was more about show of strength, Mainpuri was about unlikely bonds and equations. In his address to the crowd at Christian field, Mulayam said he wouldn't give a long speech. "(I am) happy to share the stage with Mayawatiji. I am thankful to Mayawati and would remain obliged to her for coming here to seek vote for me," he said.
Twitter Post
We welcome and respect Mayawati: Mulayam
Mulayam Singh Yadav in Mainpuri: Aaj Mayawati ji ayi hain, unka hum swagat karte hain, aadar karte hain. Mayawati ji ka bahot samman karna hamesha, kyun ki samay jab bhi aya hai to Maywati ji ne hamara sath diya hai. Hume khushi hai ki hamare samarthan ke liye wo ayi hain. pic.twitter.com/PqcPnd1wD0
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 19, 2019
Details
Came despite the guest house incident: Mayawati
On her part, Mayawati mentioned the infamous guest house incident of 1995 which laid the foundation for decades of animosity. She said, "I want to clarify why I came here despite the guest house case. In the interest of movement, we have to take a tough decision." Heaping praises on Mulayam, Mayawati said he united many in his party and he is a true leader.
Twitter Post
Mulayam isn't a 'fake backward' like PM Modi: Mayawati
Mayawati in Mainpuri: Desh veh aam jan-hith mein aur party ke movement ke hith mein bhi, kabhi-kabhi humen kathin faisle lene padte hain jisko aage rakh kar hi humne desh ke vartmann haalaton ke chalte hue, UP mein SP ke sath gathbandhan kar ke chunaav ladne ka faisla kiya hai. https://t.co/UfPj6ImnNF
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 19, 2019
Speech
Akhilesh called Mainpuri rally historic
Taking the mic, Akhilesh said Mayawati seeking votes for Mulayam was historic. "We should always respect Mayawati and Netaji," he said. Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Akhilesh said "BJP talks of creating a new nation but we want to have new prime minister to make a new nation." He claimed Uttar Pradesh progressed only during tenures of SP and BSP.
Alliance
Surprisingly, Ajit Singh missed the rally
It should be noted that Ajit Singh, who is also a part of the alliance, was absent from the rally. In the SP-BSP-RLD alliance, SP got 37 seats, BSP received 38 seats, and RLD will field candidates from 6 seats. UP has 80 Lok Sabha seats The allies left Congress' bastions Amethi and Raebareli for Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi respectively.