Mulayam’s master stroke?

Two houses standing side by side in Lucknow have but one home. The dumb show said to have been scripted by Samajwadi Party Chieftain, Mulayam Singh Yadav, has always been suspect of anything other than split.

It is a dumb show, indeed, because all postures were shown first and the players had run through all, so then they began to act. The very device is used to draw the attention of the audience to the play to stop them talking to one another.

Mulayam appears to have done just that. Look at the way the recent politics unfolding in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous State going to elections in a couple of months not only to elect 403 members to the Legislative Assembly but also, perhaps, dictate the course of the national politics.

These elections are crucial to the plans of Modi-Amit Shah combine which is riding roughshod over everything in the country – politics, systems, economy, education and institutions.

The prevailing state of flux is bewildering and sometimes alarming. Mulayam looks to have judged well to script the play he began to shape assiduously. He is one politician who has not lost sight of the highest pedestal in the country.

He is skilled at gaining advantage, however deceitfully be it, in such unpredictable and fearsome circumstances when the rivals are ranged against one another to gain an upper hand.

Just as it is crucial for the Bharatiya Janata Party to wrest as many seats as possible for a smooth ride into the second term at the Centre, it is as important for the Samajwadi Party to retain position in the State and impact the national politics.

If Uttar Pradesh embraces Akhilesh's governance module once again, that would give his party a huge advantage in shaping the contours of the national politics.

It is the best combo on offer for the youth and women voters – Akhilesh & Rahul/Dimple Yadav & Priyanka Vadra campaigning together.

If the two pairs tango well, it could swing fortunes in favour of the Yadavs, as well the Congress, much to the chagrin of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

For this to happen, may be, the drama was necessary. Succession is never smooth in a palace. Much intrigue and treachery run their course duly. The wily and the cunning use their craft to the best of their interests and Mulayam knows that passing on the mantle of leadership to his son could create problems within the family bestowed with deep distrust.

Secondly, if he wanted to grab all the attention, this was the best way to do it. Have we seen anyone talking about anything in the country other than the family drama in these days?

The plans of Modi-Amit combine to limit the political discourse to the black money and paint the Yadavs as supporters of black money went for a toss along with the anti-incumbency factor.

Akhilesh gained in sympathy, the Yadav rank and file got united and the minorities may not opt out... unless Mayawati plays a spoilsport, we soon find father and son duo teeing off together in March. Meanwhile, there could be some more ranting anyway.