Akhilesh, Maya skip CM’s dinner for PM

SP and BSP unlikely to support BJP’s presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati chose to skip the dinner hosted by chief minister Yogi Adityanath here on Tuesday, making it clear that the two major opposition parties in UP were unlikely to support Ram Nath Kovind, the BJP’s surprise presidential candidate.

Though the dinner was hosted in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is here for the International Yoga Day programme on Wednesday, the move was seen as a part of BJP’s diplomacy to muster opposition’s support for its presidential candidate.

According to sources, the dinner invites had been sent to around 100 dignitaries including former chief ministers, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati. While SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav joined the dinner, sitting beside the PM and interacting with him warmly, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati did not turn up for the party. Many were expecting Akhilesh to come to the party with Mulayam Singh Yadav or separately though there were little chances of Mayawati joining in.

“Absence of Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati from CM’s dinner shows their parties may not support the BJP’s Presidential candidate,” said sources. They said Mulayam Singh’s presence at the party was not a guarantee for the SP’s support, going by his diminishing hold on the party.

However, deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma denied that Presidential election was subject of discussion during the dinner. “Dinner was hosted in honour of the Prime Minister and several dignitaries were welcomed. But presidential elections had nothing to do with it,” he told HT over phone.

Among those who attended the dinner were governor Ram Naik, many high court judges, Vidhan Parishad chairman Ramesh Yadav Vidhan Sabha speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit besides over two dozen ministers of the Yogi Adityanath’s cabinet, bureaucrats and some freedom fighters.

The Prime Minister was introduced to the guests. The dinner menu included special Gujarati cuisine including ‘kadhi’.