Mulayam Singh's latest blow to son Akhilesh will please the BJP

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has seemingly sent out a loud and clear message to his son and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav: He may be licking his wounds from a bitter defeat, but he is no wounded Old Lion.

By declaring that he will not campaign for Akhilesh in the forthcoming Assembly elections, the SP patriarch has refused to accept the meek position of party patron - and is boldly stating that Akhilesh does not have his endorsement for the decisions taken against his will.

This is bound to have wider ramifications in UP where much to Mulayam's discontent, the Congress is piggybacking on SP's strength, under Akhilesh's leadership.

He was the one who earned the title Mullah Mulayam Singh in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition - and has always been opposed to the alliance between SP and Congress.

But the new wanted to ring out the old with larger political ambitions possibly obliterating his vision.

Akhilesh faced widespread protests during Muzaffarnagar riots and I am witness to it. The BSP has already gone full throttle on the issue.

Earlier, Mulayam had stated that Akhilesh was not very keen on protecting the interests of the minorities and opposed his move to appoint a Muslim DGP.

It is apparent that the so-called Mullah Mulayam does have his son's support. Akhilesh, desperate to consolidate the minority vote, may have gone along with the Congress but Mulayam has come out looking like a spoilsport.

Now, does the SP supremo's latest statement suit the BJP?

Why is the father speaking against his son and why is the son - pronounced by Mulayam as the next CM candidate - going against his father's will?

Mulayam is no longer the old guard and Akhilesh no longer a fledgling - they are at daggers drawn.

This works for the saffron fold as the SP supremo's latest statement is bound to swing the minority vote. Where is the remote control?