Things are no longer the same between the Samajwadi Party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and Amar Singh. Once inseparable from each other, the two are rarely seen together these days. The SP’s debacle in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls had created a rift in the relationship. Mulayam had been facing increasing pressure from within his family to take control of things, and not to leave everything to Amar. Then the latter had a kidney problem and was out of active politics for months. In his absence, Ram Gopal Yadav supposedly usurped his position in Mulayam’s circle of trust.
But Amar Singh is too tough a man to take things lying down. He made it clear that he has only two friends: Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Ambani. This confession scared Mulayam stiff. So he sent along his son, Akhil esh, to be with Amar, while he recuperated in Singapore . But there’s no stopping Amar now. He has expressed displeasure over the inclusion of ministers with dubious personal histories into the party. The ground beneath poor Mulayam’s feet seems to be melting away.