Mulayam Singh Yadav wants Modi as PM again

In his departure note during the last day of the Budget Session, Mulayam, speaking at the Lok Sabha, backed Modi for another term as PM, despite having criticized him earlier.

Standing beside Sonia Gandhi, Mulayam voiced his support, while PM Modi folded his hands in gratitude and smiled at the political veteran's words.

Responding to Mulayam's comment, PM Modi thanked the SP founder in the Lok Sabha, saying, "There is much to do. And Mulayam Singh ji has given his blessings. I am very grateful to him."

Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi responded by saying that he did not agree with Mulayam. However, he added, "Mulayam Singh Yadav ji has a role in politics and I respect his opinion."

Up until his comment in the Lok Sabha, Mulayam had been sharing the stage with his son Akhilesh Yadav and other Opposition leaders like Chandrababu Naidu in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, which are two months away.

However, despite this, Mulayam had not launched any direct attack on the BJP or PM Modi in the last few months.

Mulayam's comments come at a time when his son and current SP chief Akhilesh has been attending mega rallies organized by Opposition parties, including the one organized in Kolkata by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.

Akhilesh has also gone into confrontations with the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, and a war of words had erupted yesterday after he was detained at the Lucknow airport.

It's understood that all is not well between father and son, especially after the latter struck an alliance with arch-enemies Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), led by Mayawati.

Mulayam is also believed to be close to his brother, Shivpal Yadav, who broke away from the SP to form his own party, Samajwadi Secular Morcha, last year.

Shivpal has also condemned the SP-BSP alliance.