What was threatening to turn into a fratricidal war similar to the battles at Kurukshetra that pitted kith versus kin and led to brothers spilling the blood of brothers for land and power, has ended with a whimper. Perhaps the conspiracy theorists were right -- the raging feud in the reigning Yadav clan of Uttar Pradesh was no more than 'nura kushti', a fixed match, a pathetic meme of the 'wrestling' seen during WWF shows.
If that is indeed true, the months of theatrical denunciations and denouncements indulged in by Mulayam Singh Yadav, his confidant and brother Shiv Pal Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and his counsellor Ram Gopal Yadav, who too is Mulayam's brother were a scripted sham.
In heartland politics, or for that matter in politics anywhere else, 'siddhant' -- principles, or ideals if you wish -- are not consequential. If anything, they are on discount. Yet, nothing gives a politician a better makeover than his or her being perceived to have taken a principled stand.
So it could be argued that the 'nura kushti' we have been witness to was really to polish Akhilesh's image, to cut him lose from the baggage that came to define his father Mulayam's identity politics of utter cynicism, to enable the transfer of assets, including the Samajwadi Party's electoral symbol, 'Cycle', without the liabilities that have accrued over the decades.
Hindus would remember Mulayam Singh Yadav as 'Mullah Mulayam', but they would not readily identify Akhilesh Yadav as 'Mullah Akhilesh'. Muslims who may have considered drifting away from the Samajwadi Party will feel les impulsive to do so. Mulayam has messaged them he still remains their patron and 'protector'.
And to Akhilesh he has given a list of 38 names -- his favourites and loyalists -- that should be included in the official list of candidates for the coming State Assembly election. That list does not include Shiv Pal Yadav.
Politics is strange. It often turns out to be no more than the arena of a travelling circus.
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