Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav met the Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh on Thursday morning at the JD-U chief's residence at 7, Tughlaq Road in New Delhi, setting off speculation as to what''s afoot.
The meeting has sent shockwaves through the ruling Congress party, which apprehends the likelihood of a major legislative onslaught on the United Progressive Alliance inside the Lok Sabha over the Women's Reservation Bill.
The timing of this meeting of the Hindi heartland chiefs has political circles in the capital buzzing. While their strategy seems unclear at the moment, there is a belief that these parties might move a motion against the Speaker. Various theories as to whether these parties will withdraw support to the UPA or seek some form of political accommodation with the ruling dispensation are doing the rounds.
Another aspect is that the internal strife between the RJD, LJP and JD-U on one side and the Congress on the other is being played out in Parliament, with an eye on the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. The recent suspension of seven Rajya Sabha MPs has also been a bone of contention.
Later in the day, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Sharad Yadav, the three strong opponents of women's bill, met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader T R Baalu also joined the meeting being held by Pranab Mukherjee.
