Mayawati, Mulayam share political stage in Uttar Pradesh, calls PM Modi 'fake backward leader'

"Mulayam Singh Yadav is not a fake backward leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Mayawati said.

The two veteran politicians were accompanied by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who was the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister between 2012-2017. Mulayam is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Mainpuri.

What was the reason for their bitter relationship?

Mulayam and Mayawati, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Ministers, have developed a bitter relationship since 1995, two years after the SP and BSP formed the state government in an alliance.

The rift occurred after Mulayam's SP workers allegedly attacked a guest house where BSP chief Mayawati was present.

As a response to the incident, Mayawati, who has been the Chief Minister for four terms, withdrew her support from the government and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Mayawati refers to hotel incident

Fourteen years later, Mayawati referred to the hotel incident and said Mulayam has changed over the years and he has done a lot to ensure women get their due share.

Mulayam embarrassed Akhilesh Yadav

Not too far ago, Mulayam, embarrassing his party, extended support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the parliament and said he wishes the BJP leader comes back to power at a time Akhilesh is going hard on the saffron party, which had defeated SP-Congress alliance heavily in 2017 state polls. 

Why the arch-rivals came close?

With the BJP becoming the dominant force in the northern state, SP and BSP have come together and formed an alliance to bag maximum seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Road to Delhi is through UP

Uttar Pradesh has been a key state in the General Elections as it provides 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

In the 2014 General Elections, the BJP and its allies bagged 73 seats to pave the way for Modi's first Prime Ministerial term.

Image Credit: twitter.com/samajwadiparty