Lalu-Mulayam: United by Ideology, Divided by Proclivity to Change

Lalu-Mulayam though united in Lohia’s socialist beliefs stand divided as far as keeping pace with time is concerned

Both of them were inspired by the socialist thinker Ram Manohar Lohia and they reaped the benefits of aggressively pushing Lohia’s idea of pichare paaye sau mein saath (60 per cent for backwards). They harboured the ambition of becoming the prime minister but could never cross the final hurdle. Both of them are known more for parivarvaad (dynasty politics) now than socialism of the kind Lohia had envisioned.

We are talking about Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav. While the former gave a whole new dimension to the post-Congress politics in Uttar Pradesh, the latter’s imprint in Bihar’s politics is second to none in the post-Mandal era. More than a dozen members of Mulayam’s family are in active politics and Lalu has to do some catching up on this count. Both the Yadav families are in news now and mostly for wrong reasons.

Ongoing Feud in Mulayam Family to Impact SP’s Image

While the ongoing feud in the Mulayam family may prove to be costly for the Samjwadi Party (SP) in the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Lalu’s family has been accused of being soft on don-turned-politician Sahabuddin.

But the similarity ends here. There has been a fundamental difference in the way the two patriarchs have evolved all these years.

Lalu, though more aggressive of the two, seems to have learnt his lessons from past mistakes, Mulayam’s politics is still stuck in the 1990s. That is the reason why the two Yadavs reacted very differently to recent crises.

Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mulayam and UP’s chief minister, was perceived to be a breath of fresh air in the Mandal-Mandir ridden politics of the country’s most populous state.

He sought to do things that were not expected from a conventional Samajwadi. Even his recent actions – blocking the entry of Mukhtar Ansari’s Quami Ekta Dal (QED) to sacking tainted ministers from his cabinet – were aimed at giving a new profile to his party, a profile that is development-oriented, people-centric and more in tune with the aspirational class.

Also Read: Mulayam Chides Akhilesh: 5 Factors that Will Seal SP’s Fate in UP

Drifting Away from Tenets of Socialism

• Lalu and Mulayam are known more for parivarvaad rather than samajwad now.
• Mulayam’s actions can potentially undermine Akhilesh’s efforts to acquire a new profile for the Samajwadi Party.
• Mulayam has blocked progressive actions of his son.
• Lalu’s reaction to recent developments with respect to Shahabuddin have been measured.

Father Harming Son’s Political Career?

But Mulayam has proved to be a big stumbling block, preventing his son at every step, even at the risk of earning a bad name for the SP ahead of crucial assembly elections.

At a time when Mulayam and other members of the extended Yadav family could have done their bit to add to the popular appeal (that is what recent surveys show) of Akhilesh, there have been concerted efforts, mostly from within the family, to pull him down.

Ever since his elevation as the chief of Samajwadi Party’s UP unit, Shivpal Yadav (Mulayam’s brother) has been taking decisions, perhaps with the tacit approval of Mulayam himself, aimed at reducing the influence of Akhilesh in the party. As a result, Akhilesh looks weak and somewhat helpless.

Lalu’s Balanced Approach on Shahabuddin

Lalu, on the other hand, comes across as a picture in contrast. His utterances on the issue of bail to Sahabuddin have been balanced and to the point. Despite apprehensions to the contrary, Lalu and his family members have not done anything, at least not just yet, to put their party’s alliance with Nitish Kumar in jeopardy.

It is very unlikely that the Bihar government would have taken the decision to file a petition in the Supreme Court to cancel Sahabuddin’s bail without securing Lalu’s consent.

In fact, Lalu has earned a reputation of being a committed ally and a trusted friend. His brand of secularism is credited to have ensured a healthy inter-community relations in Bihar, almost free of major communal riots in more than two decades. Uttar Pradesh has had no such luck.

Mulayam started with the same set of ideology but has been gradually shedding some along the way. Instead of passing the baton to his son Akhilesh, he seems to be bent on undermining his own legacy. Recent events indicate just that.

Lalu and Mulayam have been towering figures in their respective states. Is the difference in the way Bihar and UP have evolved in the last few years partly a reflection of their contrasting style?

Also Read:
Does Shahabuddin’s Robin Hood Act Spell Trouble for Nitish Kumar?
In UP’s Yadav Feud, Akhilesh Acted After Mulayam’s Flip-Flop