The Hindu : National : Mulayam for anti-Congress, anti-BJP front

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

National

National

Mulayam for anti-Congress, anti-BJP front

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 30. The Samajwadi Party (SP) says that a third alternative to the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party is a distinct possibility but would not set any time-frame for such a formation.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and SP chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, said here today that after his party's success in the recent Akbarpur and Mainpuri Lok Sabha byelections, "every one knows who stands where."

He appeared upset over the charge by the Congress and the BJP to the Election Commission that had led to the countermanding of the Mainpuri poll.

He said that during a recent meeting, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, had said that while such a front was not needed now, the door was not closed.

Mr. Yadav said that a time would come when such an alternative would take centre-stage and people unwilling to accept the idea would have to eat their words.

Centre criticised

He criticised the manner in which the United Progressive Alliance Government was functioning and said that if it continued to perform the way it did "it would not be long before such a front was formed."

He praised the Planning Commission for clearing the Rs.13,000-crore annual plan for Uttar Pradesh and expressed the hope that the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister would respond positively to the State's demand for additional funds.

Ruling out the SP joining the UPA Government, Mr. Yadav said it would continue supporting it from outside. On whether the third alternative he envisaged would replace the UPA, Mr. Yadav said the "Third Front was already in UPA" and that the need was to make them realise it.

On the power tussle between the Ambani brothers of the Reliance group and its likely impact on the Dadri power project in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Yadav stressed that the project was not in jeopardy. The Ambani brothers were sensible people and would resolve the problem.

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