NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party, which had earlier maintained that it would support the Manmohan Singh government from outside, may reverse its position and join the government. The unexpected development is likely to cause unease among some Congress ministers.

SP leaders appear to have gradually come around to favouring participation in the government, well-placed party sour-ces indicated on Friday, a day after the top SP duo, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, held talks with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Amid indications that BJP's offensive against the cash-for-vote scam could get SP and Congress into a tighter political embrace, SP sources refused to confirm whether power-sharing featured in the talks on Thursday night.

They, however, said that the issue of how to strengthen the freshly forged political partnership was covered in the long discussion.

That SP was taking a relook at its stance became evident on Friday when Amar Singh, answering queries from reporters, said that the issue of the party joining the government would be decided among Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Though guarded, the response marked a shift from the party's earlier disclaimers.

SP, whose ab-out-face on the nuclear deal helped the UPA government prevail in the confrontation with the opposition on Tuesday, had earlier said that it would sit outside because it did not wish to become a collateral victim of the incumbency acquired by the UPA government on account of inflation and other political minuses.

The rethink is being attributed to the feeling among party workers in UP that participation at the Centre will help them deal better with their arch rival, UP chief minister Mayawati, whom they have accused of using state machinery for political gains. In the bare-knuckle politics of UP, the power deficit leaves SP at a clear disadvantage vis-a-vis a resolute opponent.

SP sources indicated that Mulayam Singh Yadav, should he decide to have a share of the central pie, was unlikely to join the government because he was keen not to get distracted from the looming political challenge of Lok Sabha polls in UP.

In that case, the possible SP representation at the Centre may be led by his trusted associate, Amar Singh.
A participation is sure to be preceded by tough negotiations between the two sides over the berths for the SP quota - something that may see the anxiety level rising among Congress ministers.

With 33 members in Lok Sabha, SP will overtake Lalu Prasad's RJD as the biggest prop for the Manmohan Singh government and is sure to insist on a participation - both in terms of numbers and type of portfolios - commensurate with its contribution.

In fact, the PM’s keenness to pursue his reforms agenda, now that he is free of the fetters imposed by the Left, may work to the advantage of an SP leadership adept at realpolitik.

Many Congress ministers have reason to be wary of the development. Given the cap on the size of the ministry and the compulsion not to annoy the old allies - each having a higher leverage after the separation from the Left - means that it is the Congress contingent that may have to be pruned to make room for the Samajwadis.

The recognition that it is because of another reversal by SP — the one on the nuclear deal — that the government survived the clash with the Left can hardly assuage the fear of power loss that many of them may suffer if SP goes for another political pirouette.