Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh has blamed the party’s loss in the Firozabad Lok Sabha bypoll on the overconfidence of its chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and said Yadav “behaved symbolically like Mayawati” while campaigning in the constituency. In an interview to News 24, a television channel, Singh said it was overconfidence of Mulayam and his family that was responsible for the SP chief’s daughter-in-law Dimple’s loss to Congress nominee Raj Babbar.

“These people made the mistake of thinking that this was their stronghold, similar to Rae Bareli or Amethi strongholds of Indiraji or Soniaji or Rahulji. But look at the amount of time these Congress leaders have spent in their constituencies. In his campaign Mulayam Singhji behaved symbolically like Mayawati and did not campaign on the ground at all. This was our complacency,” a release from the channel quoted him. “I am not excusing the fact that there was a disquiet among public regarding some of our local workers,” he added.

Singh also said the party did not stand by him during his illness. “I now know that in a critical situation, it is only the family that gives support. It is not the party that stands by you, the party only uses you for its own convenience ... Mulayam Singh came only once (to meet me in Singapore). I have to say that more than the party, my family put all work aside to stay by my side.”

Singh said he was unfairly being made the scapegoat for the party’s failures.

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