Mulayam Singh Yadav's Photo With Mohan Bhagwat Creates Buzz Ahead Of UP Election

The image went viral after it was tweeted by Union Minister Arjun Meghwal and has triggered an exchange between the Congress, SP and BJP.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav (Twitter/@arjunrammeghwal)

New Delhi: An image of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav sitting together at an event has set tongues wagging ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election. 

The image went viral after it was tweeted by Union Minister Arjun Meghwal and has triggered an exchange between the Congress, SP and BJP.

Reports said the image was clicked at the wedding reception of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's granddaughter in Delhi. 

राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के परम पूज्य सरसंघचालक मा. @DrMohanBhagwat जी से आज जन्मदिवस के अवसर पर आत्मीय भेंट करके आशीर्वाद लिया।आपका स्नेह, सहयोग, मार्गदर्शन, सदैव कर्तव्य पथ पर चलते हुए माँ भारती की निरंतर सेवा करने की प्रेरणा देता है। pic.twitter.com/Df01oETcKM

— Arjun Ram Meghwal (@arjunrammeghwal) December 20, 2021

The development comes days after the Income Tax department conducted raids on some SP leaders considered close to party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Akhilesh had said he expected visits by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate too ahead of the polls.

After the image of Mohan Bhagwat and Mulayam Yadav went viral, Congress, in a cryptic tweet, said, "Is the S in the 'new SP' meant to be Sanghawad."

A tweet from the BJP in Uttar Pradesh followed soon. "A picture says a lot," said the tweet.

"नई सपा" में 'स' का मतलब 'संघवाद' है? pic.twitter.com/7qlUsDP9X9

— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) December 20, 2021

Replying to the Congress, the SP shot back, saying, "The Congress has put up a photo from an event where leaders of its ally NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) also sought Netaji's (Mulayam Singh) blessing. What does the Congress have to say to this?"

READ | BJP Still Leading In UP, But Akhilesh Yadav's SP Narrowing Vote Share

While several politicians and dignitaries were invited to the event, it was this image of Mohan Bhagwat and Mulayam Yadav that grabbed the spotlight amid the high-voltage campaigning ahead of UP election.

With the ruling BJP aiming to retain power in the Hindi heartland state, the Samajwadi Party has emerged as a key challenger. In recent weeks, both the parties have indulged in no holds barred attack on each other at political rallies.