The Congress-Samajwadi Party marriage of convenience was finally consummated Sunday, after fears of emerging political isolation pushed ‘the not so amiable allies’ into a political embrace that ironically, does not guarantee the nomination of independent Adeeb Khan to the upper house of parliament.
Khan is the Congress-SP backed independent for Rajya Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh, the decision to field Khan came less than 24 hours before the deadline for nominations expires on Monday.
Khan had recently launched a tirade against National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and questioned the Congress’ commitment to "secularism."
An alumnus of the Aligarh Muslim University, Khan was earlier the coordinator of the minorities’ cell of the All India Congress Committee.
His candidature thwarts the aspirations of various Congress leaders including Salman Khursheed and Pramod Tiwari and adds to the growing worries of SP leader from Mumbai, Abu Azmi, whose term ends later this month.
The going may not be ‘all easy’ for Khan as Bahujan Samaj czarina, Mayawati is expected to attempt blockade of the Congress-SP truck by aggressively poaching opposition and independent members to garner support for Congress rebel Akhliesh Das, who is in fray as the sixth BSP candidate.
The Congress-SP decide on fielding Khan is the pro-minority middle path worked out after Amar Singh’s repeated flaying of the Congress for not ordering a judicial probe into the Batla House encounter.
Echoing sentiments first voiced by the Singh, Khan had on October 26 written to the Congress president and blistered the party, for failing to honour ‘Muslim expectations.’
The carefully worded communication blistered NSA Narayanan and criticized the Congress policy on minorities but, stopped short of going beyond the point of no return.
The decision was made public after Congress president Sonia Gandhi and SP leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh met for what may be viewed as fence-mending talks.
With the BJP vowing a rout in the forthcoming parliamentary elections and the third front slicing through their vote banks to gain political ground, the Congress-SP rethink over their relationship, according to pundits, is a reflection of dwindling electoral fortunes that may see the two romance each other, as a minor force, on the opposition benches next year.
Khan is the Congress-SP backed independent for Rajya Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh, the decision to field Khan came less than 24 hours before the deadline for nominations expires on Monday.
Khan had recently launched a tirade against National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and questioned the Congress’ commitment to "secularism."
An alumnus of the Aligarh Muslim University, Khan was earlier the coordinator of the minorities’ cell of the All India Congress Committee.
His candidature thwarts the aspirations of various Congress leaders including Salman Khursheed and Pramod Tiwari and adds to the growing worries of SP leader from Mumbai, Abu Azmi, whose term ends later this month.
The going may not be ‘all easy’ for Khan as Bahujan Samaj czarina, Mayawati is expected to attempt blockade of the Congress-SP truck by aggressively poaching opposition and independent members to garner support for Congress rebel Akhliesh Das, who is in fray as the sixth BSP candidate.
The Congress-SP decide on fielding Khan is the pro-minority middle path worked out after Amar Singh’s repeated flaying of the Congress for not ordering a judicial probe into the Batla House encounter.
Echoing sentiments first voiced by the Singh, Khan had on October 26 written to the Congress president and blistered the party, for failing to honour ‘Muslim expectations.’
The carefully worded communication blistered NSA Narayanan and criticized the Congress policy on minorities but, stopped short of going beyond the point of no return.
The decision was made public after Congress president Sonia Gandhi and SP leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh met for what may be viewed as fence-mending talks.
With the BJP vowing a rout in the forthcoming parliamentary elections and the third front slicing through their vote banks to gain political ground, the Congress-SP rethink over their relationship, according to pundits, is a reflection of dwindling electoral fortunes that may see the two romance each other, as a minor force, on the opposition benches next year.
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