With the state Congress ensuring a walkover for UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple in the recently held Kannauj Lok Sabha by-election, it was widely expected that the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) would reciprocate the gesture, sooner than later.
And the political pundits were spot on, as the CM, who is in charge of the Home Department, sanctioned Y-category security to the newly- appointed Leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Pradip Mathur on Wednesday. Akhilesh also made it clear that the relationship between the SP and the Congress would be further strengthened and the two parties would strive to protect each other’s interests.
Besides Mathur, Congress MLC Nasib Pathan has been provided additional security by the state government.
Though neither Tiwari nor Pathan faced a major threat to their personal safety, they demanded special security from the government as they wanted a phalanx of gun-toting bodyguards, to impress the public. And the duo had personally met the CM to press their demand.
Former Chief Minister Mayawati also used to move around with more than 100 police personnel and had demanded security cover on par with that given to the Prime Minister, but it was turned down by the Centre.
However, Akhilesh is an exception to the rule as he is one of the few politicians from the state who does not hanker after high category security. Despite this, he has been obliging others in order to keep them happy and satisfied. But this is not the only instance of SP-Congress bonhomie in the recent past. When Congress leader Sonia Gandhi expressed her desire to have an AIIMS in her Rae Bareli constituency, Akhilesh announced that the state government would provide land to the hospital complex as soon as possible.
Also, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav ditched his new found political ally Mamata Banerjee to extend his support to Congress candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential election.