Election 2019: Mulayam Singh, Mayawati - Enemies For 2 Decades - Together On Stage Today

NEW DELHI: With more than two decades of animosity behind them, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati will address a joint rally today in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri. The spectacle of the bitter enemies sharing the stage is really the essence of the opposition gathbandhan (alliance) in Uttar Pradesh to take on the BJP in the national election.

Mulayam Singh, the father of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, is contesting the election from Mainpuri, a family stronghold. It is a safe seat for the Samajwadi patriarch, so getting Mayawati to address a rally here is loaded with optics.

The effort from both parties is to showcase their friendship and ensure the smooth transfer of votes wherever the gathbandhan has fielded joint candidates.

Mulayam Singh and Mayawati fell out after their ruling coalition in UP crashed in 1995, two years after they came together along with smaller parties to keep the BJP out of power. In what is widely known as the "guest house incident", Samajwadi Party workers attacked a state guest house where the BSP chief was camping with her supporters. The provocation was Mayawati's decision to pull out and join hands with the BJP.

After Akhilesh Yadav took over as Samajwadi Chief, he reached out to Mayawati - the pair is now popular as the bua-babua (aunt-nephew) - and attempted a do over. Last year, the two parties successfully collaborated to win by-polls in BJP strongholds like Kairana, Gorakhpur and Phulpur.

But such acrimonious history is not easy to set aside. Mulayam Singh had cited health issues to skip three joint rallies held earlier in Deoband, Badaun and Agra.

Besides Mulayam Singh, both Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati will address the rally along with Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh. It is a massive production. Around 35,000 people will be provided with food packets at the rally, says Raj Kumar, a Samajwadi lawmaker.

The BJP often refers to the 1995 guest house incident to diss the tie-up as impractical and opportunistic.

Mulayam Singh had surprised many earlier this year when he controversially wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi a second term. While his comments was received with loud cheers and desk-thumping by members of the ruling BJP - including a chuckling PM Modi -- it left those in his party scrambling for excuses.