SP goes slow on any rethink on ties with UPA

After upping the ante over Beni Prasad Yadav issue, Samajwadi Party today appeared to be going slow on any rethink on its ties with UPA, with its chief Mulayam Singh Yadav saying he will take a call when "time comes".

The SP Parliamentary Party, which met here to discuss future of its relations with Congress, authorised the party chief to take a decision in the party's "interest".

During the hour-long meeting, the party discussed pros and cons of withdrawing outside support to the government.

The general view was that since there was little possibility of a mid-term poll at the moment, SP should adopt a wait and watch policy and see what the other parties are doing after DMK withdrew from the UPA.

SP has 22 members in the 543-member Lok Sabha and its support to UPA is critical after DMK quit the alliance.

Amidst SP's increased value following the withdrawal of DMK from the UPA, Yadav decided to keep the cards close to the chest when he said that the MPs have authorised him to take any decision on various issues at an appropriate time.

"How can you decide on the timing? I will take a decision on various issues when the time comes," he told reporters in response a volley of questions like when he will decide on the future of ties with the UPA.

At the meeting, the party MPs, led by their chief, slammed Verma, Steel Minister, for his strong comments against Yadav, sources said. The comments and the perceived defiance of Verma has forced the SP to have a rethink on its ties with Congress, particularly since its demand for his removal was not met.

However, Yadav told the MPs that Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have personally intervened and promised to take Verma to task and the party should wait for a while before making the next move.

Yadav himself felt that Verma, who was once a member of SP and close to him, should have apologised personally instead of going to the media.

Verma was yesterday virtually forced to appear before media to express regret. He did so after meeting the Prime Minister and being escorted by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath.