Jaya gets Samajwadi seat after dumping Amar Singh

In a tactical move, the Samajwadi Party on Wednesday renominated Ms Jaya Bachchan to the Rajya Sabha.

This was a big surprise as there was widespread speculation that Ms Bachchan would be dropped due to her connection with the expelled leader, Mr Amar Singh.

Her renomination also stunned Mr Singh, who appears to be getting isolated from “old and trusted friends”, particularly the Bachchans.

While Ms Bachchan was said to be abroad, Mr Singh accused the SP chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, of “driving a wedge between him and the Bachchans”.

Mr Singh also “congratulated” Jaya Bhabi (Ms Bachchan) “for opting for the party in place of her devar (brother-in-law, or Mr Singh himself).”

The announcement on Ms Bachchan’s renomination was made in Lucknow by the SP’s UP unit chief, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, who is the SP chief’s son.

Ms Bachchan’s term was scheduled to end on July 4. This will, technically, be Ms Bachchan’s third term in the Upper House. She had cut off her links with Mr Amar Singh by staying away from his ‘Kshatriya rally’, which was attended by a few loyalists including Ms Jayaprada who were subsequently expelled.