Earlier this year, when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav went all the way to Karnataka to usher S. Bangarappa into his Samajwadi Party, nobody quite realised the real intent behind the move.

But it all fell into place Sunday with Bangarappa's victory from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka. A win that has catapulted the otherwise Uttar Pradesh centric party to national status.

In order to acquire national status, a party needs to have parliamentary representation from at least three states. Besides, the 36 Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party had only one other MP from Uttaranchal.

Now, with former Karnataka chief minister Bangarappa's victory, that coveted third state has been added to the list.

"Now that we have Lok Sabha representation in three states, the Samajwadi Party is entitled to a national status," said Mulayam Yadav's younger brother and Public Works Minister Shiv Pal Yadav gleefully.

"As such our party has representation in 23 states, but we were denied national status on account of this technical deficiency. Even that hurdle has been cleared," Shiv Pal Yadav told IANS.

The technicality apart, Mulayam Yadav has always insisted on proclaiming himself as a "national leader".

His position has been further buoyed by the victory of the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) alliance in each of the four state assembly by-elections. 

The party's sweep in successive by-elections since Mulayam Yadav rode to power for the third time in August 2003 has brought the Samajwadi Party closer to a  simple majority. The party now has 196 members in the 403-member house while its ally RLD adds up another 15.

Besides, his government also enjoys the support of at least a dozen other one-member parties or independents.

The wrestler-turned-politician from Uttar Pradesh's badlands in Etawah now has his eyes set on New Delhi. And he makes no bones about it.

"We are a growing party and have already established ourselves in 23 states. Our next target is to get our due claim in Delhi," Mulayam Yadav had told IANS during an informal chat a few days ago.

He went on to add: "The day is not far when the third front forms a government at the centre and I can assure you no one will be able to then ignore the Samajwadi Party."