Union steel minister Beni Prasad Verma’s recent attack on Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav sent positive message to the non-Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh, according to the feedback received by the Congress in the state. “This (Beni Prasad Verma’s attacks on the SP chief) has not damaged us... In fact, it has strengthened Kurmis and non-Yadav backward castes,” said a Congress leader from the minority community. He further added that in UP, the Yadavs and Kurmis are always against each other in the fight for power. According to a section of the UP Congress, Mr Verma’s comments on the SP chief were harsh but it has not caused any major damage to the reputation of the party. “Our fight has been against the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh. We cannot afford to remain silent on the SP rule. Therefore, the criticism is unavoidable,” the leaders said. Mr Yadav has been criticising the Centre and the Congress despite backing the Congress-led UPA government. He is also trying to revive a “Third Front”. That is why the SP needs to be exposed thoroughly, the Congress leaders said. Mr Yadav has not clarified as to why the SP had allied with the party led by Mr Kalyan Singh in the last Lok Sabha elections. Mr Kalyan Singh was the leading figure in the Ram Mandir agitation and was punished for demolition of the Babri Masjid, they pointed out. Asked whether Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi would be fighting the coming Lok Sabha elections from UP, they said, “We don’t think so. But we want him to contest... This will help us in the elections across the state.”
