The Samajwadi Party patriarch, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s statement in the 16th Lok Sabha, that he wished to see Narendra Modi back as prime minister has taken many a political leaders and commentators by utter surprise.

Amongst all others, Rabri Devi, the former CM of Bihar said Yadav’s statements have no relevance. “Unki umar ho gayi hai. Yaad nahi rehta hai kab kya bol denge. Unki boli ka koi mayene nahi rakhta hai. (Roughly translated as “He is old now. He can’t remember what to say when. His statements bear no relevance.”)

Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi on Mulayam Singh Yadav’s statement in Lok Sabha ‘I want you (PM Modi) to become PM again’: Unki umar ho gayi hai. Yaad nahi rehta hai kab kya bol denge. Unki boli ka koi mayene nahi rakhta hai pic.twitter.com/bNL5DePBkK — ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2019

On a day when the opposition leaders had gathered in Delhi to try and stitch together a grand alliance to take on Narendra Modi in the upcoming general election, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav created a political storm by praising the prime minister, and even wishing him a second term.

This remark was not received well by senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan as well who even said that words were put into Yadav’s mouth. “Bahut dukh hua hai ye sunkar. Ye bayan unke munh me daala gaya hai. Ye bayan Mulayam Ji ka nahi hai, ye bayan Neta Ji se dilwaya gaya hai, (I am upset after knowing this. These are not his words. Someone has put these words in his mouth.)”

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Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav should accept the truth which his father spoke in Parliament.

“This is the truth, and truth always wins. What Mulayamji said in the Parliament is the truth, I am sure like Mulayamji, his son should also accept this truth,” Adityanath said.

UP CM on MS Yadav’s remark in LS, ‘I wish you (PM Modi) become PM again’: Yah sach hai aur sach hamesha satya hota hai, sashwat hota hai. Mulayam Singh Ji ne jo kaha sansad mein wo satya hai. Mujhe vishwas hai ki Mulayam Singh Ji ki tarah unke varis bhi is sach ko swikar karenge pic.twitter.com/9LzEwcWv0X — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 13, 2019

Soon after Mulayam Singh’s remark posters thanking the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister were put up in Lucknow for his support to Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister.

The 16th Lok Sabha session was the last session before the country goes into the 2019 general elections. At this important juncture, Mulayam Singh’s remark might prove to be a game changer, especially for his son, Akhilesh Yadav who like several others, including Congress President Rahul Gandhi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, has been eyeing at the PM seat.