Events unfolded quickly thereafter. Amar Singh called on External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the National Security Advisor briefed SP leaders, the SP approached former President APJ Abdul Kalam to seek his already-known views on the deal and finally, tea and snacks at 10 Janpath, four years after Amar Singh had left in a huff swearing revenge for being “humiliated” by host Sonia at a dinner ahead of the formation of the UPA Government.

The reunion
On July 4, Amar Singh walked with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav into the sequestered residence of Sonia at 10 Janpath and offered apologies for whatever had happened in the past—Amar Singh’s personal attack on Sonia being the most vitriolic. According to sources privy to the conversation that evening, Amar Singh emphasised that mistakes had been made by both sides, with Congress leaders spreading false stories about him, making CDs and even getting his telephones tapped.

Speaking to the Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta on NDTV’s Walk The Talk programme, Singh credited Manmohan Singh for the Congress-SP rapprochement. Later he said, “Only the PM, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi knew about it. Nobody else was involved.”

The SP general secretary said there has been “constant goodwill” between him and the PM for over 10 years. Even after the UPA dinner fiasco, the PM had telephoned him to invite him to his swearing-in.

“The Prime Minister always asked me to support the deal but I would say your political leadership has to take the initiative. The actual thing started when Rahul Gandhi spoke to me after the death of my father (in February). What further strengthened our change in position was the certification by former President Abdul Kalam that the deal was in national interest,” Amar Singh said.

... contd.