Blessings doesn’t mean polls are won: Mulayam Singh’s daughter-in-law

Aparna Yadav, the daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Thursday defended his statement that in Lok Sabha that Narendra Modi should become the PM again, saying the Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch had only given his “aashirwaad” (blessings) to the latter.

“There must be a reason behind his statement, though he wished everyone, be it the Opposition or the government. Elders always give aashirwaad, but aashirwaad does not mean elections are won. For that hard work is needed. His good wishes are with everyone,” Aparna told ANI in Lucknow.

Speaking on the last day of the 16th Lok Sabha, Mulayam Singh Yadav, an MP from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday, had said: “I congratulate the PM because he has tried to take everybody along. I want to say all members must win and come again and Narendra Modi should become the Prime Minister again.”

Earlier on Thursday, talking about the SP leader, who is 79 years old, former Bihar CM Rabri Devi said, “Unki umar ho gayi hai. Yaad nahi rehta hai kab kya bol denge. Unki boli ka koi mayene nahi rakhta hai (Mulayam is old now, his memory is failing him. He does not remember what to speak and when to speak. His comments don’t mean anything).”

Expressing disagreement over the SP veteran’s remarks, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “I disagree with him. But Mulayam Singh Yadav has a role in politics and I respect his opinion.”

Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also dismissed remarks by Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav praising PM Modi in Parliament and attributed them to his old age. “Leave it. Mulayam Singh has grown old. I respect his age. Leave him,” Banerjee told reporters in New Delhi when asked about Yadav’s remarks.

In another development, hoardings have come up at some places in Uttar Pradesh capital thanking Mulayam Singh Yadav for his remarks.