Indicating a thaw in the cold war between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for her turning back to the Congress which put her in power in the state. “Mayawati could win a majority in the state only because the UPA Government helped her in the elections by deploying Central forces. But she is so ungrateful that instead of owing her victory to the UPA, she is attacking it on every given occasion,” said Mulayam.

Mulayam said Mayawati should have no illusions about her stature in politics as she was a nobody in comparison to Indira Gandhi. Mulayam’s remarks hold significance, as they come close on the heels of the Congress-friendly overtures of party general secretary Amar Singh and actor Amitabh Bachchan.

On Monday, Amar Singh had accused the CPI-M of “bulldozing” the AIIMS Act, which fixed the tenure of its director. The SP has also expressed its willingness to discuss the Indo-Us nuclear deal with the Govt if it placed new facts before them.

Continuing his attack on Mayawati, the former CM said: “After accumulating wealth through corrupt means Mayawati in her arrogance is now indulging in political vendetta.... I will be touring the state, as 11,000 FIRs have been registered against SP workers. On coming back, I will open the pandora’s box which will expose many officers in her Government,” he said.