Former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav surprised everybody when he issued statement in Lucknow asking Muslim community for having joined hands with communal forces in 2009 Lok Sabha polls. SP supremo assured Muslims that he would never join hands with those responsible for demolition of Babri Mosque. Mulayam described Kalyan Singh as 'galat tatva' without naming him and he said that he felt sorry that his tie up with such elements pained Muslims.

It would be would worth mentioning here that there was considerable erosion in SP's Muslim support in 2009 Lok Sabha polls which resulted in downfall in number of seats in the Parliament. According to political pundits, Mulayam Singh Yadav was forced to issue the statement to revive the fortune of the party before next assembly polls which is very crucial for the survival of SP.

It may be mentioned here that Mulayam Singh Yadav had formed the alliance with Muslims after he ordered firing on kar sewaks in Ayodhya in 1990 to protect the Babri mosque. At that time he had emerged as most powerful leader with the backing of Muslims from all over the country.

During 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Mulayam Singh Yadav thought that Muslims would not desert him and he would gain crucial Lodh Rajput backward votes with the help of former chief minister Kalyan Singh who had already left his parent party BJP. But it so happened that Mulayam Singh Yadav lost his Muslim support and on the other hand, Kalyan Singh failed to transfer Lodh Rajput votes for Samajwadi Party candidates.

With their presence at 17 per cent of total population in the state and having influence in more then 200 constituencies, Muslims constitute very important position in state electoral politics. That is why Mulayam Singh Yadav's initiative to seek pardon from Muslim community has started churning process in the state politics and forced the other claimants of Muslim votes to issue strong statements. To dilute the impact of Samajwadi Party leader's statement on Muslim community, Chief Minister Mayawati termed the statement of Mulayam as political gimmick. Although Mayawati herself had become chief minister thrice with the support of BJP, but she charged Mulayam for hobnobbing with communal forces. Mayawati said that Mulayam had shared cabinet in 1977 with Kalyan Singh and became chief minister in 1989 with the help of BJP and again in 2003 he made Kalyan's son Rajbir Singh minister in his cabinet. She accused Mulayam Singh Yadav of dividing society into Hindus and Muslims to help communal forces and help in formation of their government at the centre.

Congress party which got the maximum advantage from the erosion of Muslim votes from Samajwadi Party in 2009 Lok Sabha polls as party got unexpectedly 21 seats from the state also strongly reacted to Mulayam's statement. UPCC President Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that Mulayam's statement was a desperate attempt to win over Muslim support. She further said Muslim community could never depend on words of Mulayam Singh Yadav who could join communal forces if situation demanded in future as well.

Terming Mulayam as a big opportunist, Rita Bahuguna Joshi said in last Lok Sabha polls Mulayam had taken support from Yadavs and Muslims for granted and joined hands with Kalyan Singh to get backwards votes. “But he was punished by Muslims for having joined hands with communal forces”, she added.

Significantly former chief minister Kalyan Singh termed Mulayam Singh Yadav as a big traitor who not only damaged him but to Muslim community as well. Kalyan Singh said Muslims will not pardon Mulayam Singh Yadav who would never be able to form government in the state.

However, prominent Muslim religious leaders have refrained from commenting on Mulayam's statement and said it was for Muslim community to react. (IPA)