Lucknow, November 16: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel Kalyan Singh’s bid to return to the party he walked out of twice before seems to have been viewed favourably by the party leadership, with three BJP leaders visiting his house on Monday.
BJP’s state unit vice-president Surya Pratap Shahi, Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma and legislator Vindhyavasni Kumar called on the one-time powerful party leader who had angrily marched out of the BJP fold in January 2009 to shake hands with foe-turned-friend Mulayam Singh Yadav.
However, with Mulayam Singh abruptly dumping him Saturday after his party’s dismal showing in the recent assembly by-polls in Uttar Pradesh, Kalyan Singh did not hesitate to display his intent to secure re-entry into his parent party.
At a press conference Sunday, he expressed regret at associating himself with Mulayam Singh’s intention to weaken the BJP and said he was ready to make amends for this.
Kalyan Singh stressed he was still a member of the RSS, “which has always stood by to uphold the cause of Hindutva, that is essential for ensuring a bright future for the country”.
“There is need to strengthen Hindu forces, and I am ready to offer my services for that,” he said.
However, both Kalyan and his visitors Monday flatly denied that their meeting had any political connotations.
“Kalyan Singh-ji has been my political mentor and whatever I am today is because of him,” said Shahi, who was a minister during Kalyan Singh’s stints as chief minister, while justifying his sudden visit to Singh’s home.
Describing Kalyan Singh as “father like”, both Sharma and Vindhyavasni Kumar said they did not need any reason to visit him.
—IANS