Rajvir’s induction came an hour after Mulayam drove to Kalyan’s residence in the morning, accompanied by his party’s general secretary Amar Singh, who is said to have played a key role in bringing together the two strange bedfellows in the Indian politics.

At the end of the day, both the Singhs were beaming. While Kalyan got a platform to launch his son, Mulayam’s party can now freely partake of votes of Kalyan’s Lodh community in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

In the short run, however, it means a few extra votes for the SP in the Legislative Council elections due today. Rajvir’s wife Premlata Devi is a BJP MLA. Another BJP MLA Sunder Singh, who was present on the occasion, said he and three others would follow Kalyan’s directions.

Flush with victory in this political coup of sorts, Mulayam said, “With Rajvir joining out party, people of this state has got a real political alternative they had been waiting for long. We will work for the poor, SC, OBCs and the disadvantaged.”

On his part, Kalyan vowed his allegiance to the Samajwadi Party. “Let there be no doubt that I am with the Samajwadi Party and wherever and whenever they need me, I shall be available and will extensively campaign for the SP during the coming Lok Sabha polls.”

Apparently pleased with himself, Amar said together they would finish off the BJP in the state. “The real face of Bahujan Samaj has now emerged in UP with the coming together of Kalyan and Mulayam. Our mission is to finish the BJP in UP,” he said, adding that Kalyan would remain Independent and it was for him to choose a constituency for himself but he would most likely contest from Etah. Mulayam thanked Kalyan for allowing his son to join the Samajwadi Party. “Rajvir is a very competent person and he would certainly add to the appeal and overall strength of the SP. My blessings are with him,” he said, adding his party would field Rajvir in the upcoming LS polls. Asked if it was rank political opportunism to have ties with Kalyan, Mulayam said, “I have old ties with Kalyan. We were together in the Janata Party government in 1977.” Going a step further, Amar called it “an alliance of hearts” while Rajvir said he was joining a family and Mulayam “loved me like his son”.

Rajvir claimed more than half of the BJP MLAs and cadres in UP had deserted the party and would soon come into the Samajwadi Party fold.

Amar ducks friendly fire, says Cong tie-up intact

The Samajwadi Party claimed its ties with former BJP leader Kalyan Singh, under whose rule the Babri Masjid was demolished, would have no impact on its electoral alliance with the Congress.