In a sharp political move, which could change a number of existing political equations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has invited both the SP and the BSP for the dinner he will be hosting to the UPA partners and supporters on May 22 to mark the fourth anniversary of the UPA government. Interestingly, this is for the first time that both the SP and the BSP are being invited for a UPA dinner.
The exception was the first dinner arranged by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in May, 2004, in which the then CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet brought SP leader Amar Singh along with him, though the latter was not invited. ??Yes, we have got the invitation and will take decision after discussion within the party,?? SP chief whip in Lok Sabha Mohan Singh told FE. SP sources added that ??most probably?? they will attend the function. Only SP MPs, not its leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, have got the invitation.
The BSP, on the other hand, has not made up its mind. ??Let us discuss it with our leader Mayawati,?? BSP treasurer and Rajya Sabha MP Anbeth Rajan said. He confirmed that his party MPs have got the invitation.
With the UPA?s relationship with the Left parties worsening over the price rise and the Indo-US nuclear deal, political observers are giving much importance to the PM?s present move. Though Left circles maintained that they will be attending the dinner, in which a progress card of the UPA?s workings in the last four years is also being released, there are indications that the May 23 meeting of the Left parties will be crucial for the government.
??We will have to see the recent developments seriously. There is immense pressure from our cadres and sympathisers to review the support to the UPA government,?? senior CPI leader Atul Kumar Anjan told FE.