State Gazette

But the SP leader was quick to add that he has not diluted his anti-Congress ideology. "I would like to make it clear that even today as far as principles are concerned we are still anti-Congress and anti-bjp. But such issues need to be kept aside when one is truly concerned about the unity of the country and the welfare of the people," Mulayam told Outlook.

Within SP circles, Mulayam’s stand vis-a-vis the Congress is seen as softening of the party’s earlier position. The current thinking in the party is, in the the event of the Mayawati government running into trouble, Mulayam would need Congress support to have a new shot at becoming chief minister. Well, that surely explains theperceptible warmth.