The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) looks like it wants to someone to replace its ally Mamata Banerjee. The recent UPA dinner gave raise to many doubts among political circles. Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav became the centre of prominence at UPA second’s third anniversary dinner last night.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was seen sharing stage and table with the prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He also sat next to Sonia Gandhi during the dinner. This would actually be an honour given only to close allies. Since Mulayam Singh was given utmost prominence in the dinner, the sources said that UPA might want Mulayam Singh to back UPA in case Mamata bails out.

Also, there are rumours in the air that UPA is having differences with its ally Trinamool Congress on policy decisions. Further, the sources said Trinamool Congress is giving continuous threats to the UPA on withdrawing its support. It was only due to such talk, political circles are speculating that UPA would not complete five year term this time. May be Mulayam Singh will help Congress at the Centre just like how Chiranjeevi shouldered the responsibility of the party in the state when YSR Congress president Jaganmohan Reddy’s MLAs in ruling Congress voted against the Government in the no-confidence motion. Survival of Congress in Andhra Pradesh would have been next to impossible had Chiranjeevi didn’t take the responsibility of keeping the Government in AP stabilized.

(Phani)