Lucknow, January 5
The national president of the Rashtriya Kranti Party, Mr Kalyan Singh, hogged the limelight as leaders of all hues swarmed his residence to greet him on his 71st birthday today.
Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav met Mr Kalyan Singh at his residence and ended over a week-long suspension of “communication” between the two leaders of the ruling alliance.
Mr Yadav, along with the national general secretary of the Samajwadi Party, Mr Amar Singh, drove down the Mall Avenue residence to greet the septuagenarian leader.
“I have come to wish him happy birthday,” Mr Yadav said.
Before that the two had an over 15-minute meeting. “It is a courtesy call. I know Kalyan Singh is not leaving us. He will not join the BJP. I am sure,” Mr Yadav said.
It was their first meeting after Mr Kalyan Singh met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon’s residence on December 24.
The meeting sparked rumours of Mr Kalyan Singh’s homecoming to the BJP.
The rumours were still around and hordes of senior BJP leaders reached Mr Kalyan Singh’s residence to greet him.
State BJP president Vinay Katiyar said he had come to seek the blessings of “Bada Bhai” Kalyan Singh. Senior BJP leaders Premlata Katiyar, Ram Kumar Verma, and Hridaya Narain Dixit were among the BJP leaders who greeted Mr Kalyan Singh.
UPCC president Jagdambika Pal presented a bouquet to Mr Kalyan Singh on behalf of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Keeping his political options open, Mr Kalyan Singh said Ms Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin was not an issue for him.
Talking to reporters after meeting the Congress leaders who had come to wish him he said Ms Sonia Gandhi had adopted “Bharatiyata” and Indian culture.
Budaun, January 5