SP for Congress, rules out tie-up with Third Front
Kolkata (IANS) The Samajwadi Party on Sunday said it was open to a tie-up with the Congress after the Lok Sabha polls but ruled out any truck with the Third Front and the Left as they were aligned with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
"As long as our arch rival BSP chief Mayawati is with the Left parties or the Third Front, we are not going for any post-poll tie-up with them," said Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh, in the city to canvass for his party candidates.
He regretted the Congress' rejection of 17 seats offered by the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh but said his party was not averse to a post-poll pact with it.
"The Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) could run the government for the last one year with our help after the Left parties withdrew support. They rejected our offer of 17 seats in Uttar Pradesh. However, we are not averse to a tie-up with them," he said.
Asked whether his party would support Manmohan Singh as prime minister, Mr. Amar Singh said: "It will be decided by the emerging situation. Let the Congress first win the magic number."
