Nazarwala on Dabangg Netaji

Political observer Nazarwala, who made a spot-on prediction on Rediff.com of Mayawati's victory in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh assembly election, assesses Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's likely political resurrection.

Mulayam Singh Yadav is an experienced electioneer. Netaji, as he is known among his followers, knows all the tricks of the trade. His mastery over UP's caste arithmetic is unmatched.

He has clawed his way up from the grass-root level. Mulayam's definition of a 'criminal' is not what a normal law-abiding citizen would accept. Anyone who supports Mulayam is projected as law-abiding.

Many of his supporters' dubious antecedents do not deter the Samajwadi Party chief from embracing them.

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This Dabangg Netaji (carefree politician) is an inspiration (sometimes a bit too much), particularly to his Yadav followers.

Social activist Anna Hazare's supporters don white Gandhi topis, proclaiming 'I am Anna'.

Similarly, some of Mulayam's 'red capped' dabanggs, particularly the Yadavs, strut around arrogantly posing as if they are mini-Mulayams -- with a birthright to harass and extort favours of every kind!

Their tried and tested techniques of yore may suffer a setback, thanks to the strict implementation of election rules and laws by the Election Commission.

Please check Rediff Realtime News for updates on the UP elections

Efforts to get chits from the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Maulana Bukhari, may partially succeed.

By enthusiastically aping Mulayam, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati is furiously competing with him for the progressive degradation of politics gold medal.

Yadavs and motley floating voters seem to once again be reconciling and veering to accept Mulayam Singh as the lesser of two evils.

Mulayam has a humane touch when it comes to his loyal workers. He makes it a point to participate in their social events. Invariably, Netaji attends the events even of his humble and lowly workers.

It is ironic that the very same Mulayam who, till the other day, was hated and reviled, seems to be staging a comeback on the UP scene, thanks to Mayawati.

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Uttar Pradesh voters seem doomed to choose between the devil and the deep sea.

Spoilsport Dr Ayub's Peace Party is sympathetic to Mayawati; Thakurs blessed by Amar Singh; Kurmis instigated by erstwhile Mulayam confidant Beni Prasad Verma; all can prove to be the dislodging Trojan horse, and they may clandestinely upset the Samajwadi Party's apple-cart beyond expectation.

Senility is reflected in the poll promise of raising the minimum age of an applicant for government jobs to 35 years.

And just in case the mini-King Bruces fail in 'buying' a government job, after the 35-year-old mark, they need not lose heart, as Netaji proposes to dole out Rs 12,000 per month to each one... till he dies!

Had he to contend with honest politicians like Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee or Dr Raman Singh, then Mulayam would have been politically buried.

Please check Rediff Realtime News for updates on the UP elections

Mulayam Singh has a Sudarshan Chakra in son Akhilesh.Yadav, who is working hard to project a more agreeable image.

Akhilesh is asserting himself and refused party stalwart Mohan Singh's overtures to induct the controversial D P Yadav in the Samajwadi Party.

But Mulayam Singh also has Darshan Singh of Etawah. This gent was first with Mulayam; the latter lost power. Subsequently, he joined the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress by turns.

Each time that party suffered a loss of face.

Darshan Singh has now found refuge in Mulayam's party!

Mulayam Singh has to gallop fast for the coveted but elusive double century. At the moment, his Samajwadi Party is running on the spot, battling the past, Rahul Gandhi and Mayawati.

The Enforcement Directorate, income-tax department, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Election Commission are taking up disconcerting positions.