Even as the entire opposition continues to hold rallies, meetings and protests against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav shocked the Lok Sabha with his open endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking on the last day of the ongoing session at Parliament, Yadav, a three-time former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said that he wants to see PM Modi get a second term.

“Meri kaamna hai ki pradhaanmantri ji aap phirse pradhaanmantri banein. Mera anubhav hai ki main jab bhi aap se mila, aapne turant mera kaam kiya (I wish that PM Modi, you should become the Prime Minister again. I have experienced that whenever I met you, you got my work done instantly),” he said with a polite Namaste at the PM.

“PM ko badhaai dena chahta hun ki PM ne sabko saath lekar chalne ki koshish ki hai. Main kehna chahta hun ki saare sadaysa phir se jeet kar aayen, aur aap (PM) dobara pradhan mantri banein (I want to congratulate the PM that he tries to take everyone along. I want to say that all the members [of the ruling party] win again and you [PM] return to power),” Yadav added eliciting thumping of desks from the treasury bench.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who was seated next to Mulayam, was seen smiling when the SP founder was heaping praises on PM Modi.

Reacting to Yadav’s words of appreciation, a smiling PM Modi folded his hands in gratitude.

While addressing the Lok Sabha, the PM made a mention of Yadav’s remark.

“This House has scrapped over 1400 laws; it had become a jungle of laws. This is an auspicious sign for the democracy. A lot more needs to be done…and for that we have received the blessings of Mulayam-ji,” he said.

Mulayam Singh Yadav’s remark took his own party by surprise especially since SP chief Akhilesh Yadav joined hands with long-time nemesis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“I don’t have knowledge about the context in which Neta-Ji said it. But we want change of government at Centre. PM himself will lose from his constituency,” SP leader Ravidas Mehrotra was quoted as saying by ANI.

When asked to comment on Mulayam’s remark, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “I diagree with him. But Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji has a role in politics and I respect his opinion.”

Akhilesh, a former UP CM, has either been participating in anti-BJP rallies or sending representatives to such events. He had himself participated in the 19 January mega rally at Kolkata at the invitation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Mulayam has himself participated in some opposition rallies but has refrained from making personal attacks on the BJP.

Mulayam and Akhilesh, though father and son, are not on good terms since a family feud within the party that broke out before the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.