Mulayam hopeful of alternate govt
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said an 'alternate' may be possible with the support of NDA constituents like TDP.
amajwadi Party Chief and UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday ruled out extending support to BJP to form the next Government at the Centre and said an "alternative" to it will be cobbled with the support of some of the NDA constituents like TDP.
"SP was formed to fight communal forces and to say that we will join them (BJP - after polls) will be compromising on our principles. SP cannot support communal and fascist forces," he told reporters after casting his vote here.
Yadav claimed BJP will not get enough seats to form Government at the Centre and that his party will cobble a majority with the support of NDA constituents like TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu.
"Naidu is there... We have a lot of support in NDA. We will talk to all of them (to form an alternative Government)," he said but did not say what role Congress will have in such an alliance.
"I have said small parties can come together (to form a third front). SP will enlist support of all parties opposed to communalism," he said.
He, however, added that he was not a contender for the prime ministership. "I am not a PM candidate as of now."
"Samajwadi Party will get enough seats to play an important role in formation of the Government in New Delhi," he said.
To a question on who would lead the third front, Yadav said "the leader will be decided in an hour after the results on May 13."
The Samajwadi Party leader, however, ruled out eliciting Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati's support in forming the government.
"We will have nothing to do with any party which ties up with BSP. After all the crime and corruption BSP has committed, we cannot stand with it," he said.
He charged BJP with spreading hatered and communalism. "People died in Mumbai and Gujarat but Uttar Pradesh was the factory where they (BJP) started it."
"SP will fight communalism because nation wants development not hatered. Internationally our image has suffered. True that India has developed but globally our image (as secular nation) has taken a beating. Today people want development," he said.
"We will not compromise on our principles (of fighting against communalism) for sake of power," he added.
Yadav said both BJP and Congress feared that Samajwadi Party might emerge as a "national force" after the poll results. "Our numbers (after the results) will show that we are a force to reckon with in North India".
He accused Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and NDA convenor George Fernandes of spreading a "false propoganda" on his association with them. "Atalji and Georgeji have done whatever damage they could but people are aware of what we stand for. They will not be fooled by all this."
Asked about Congress president Sonia Gandhi's role in the alternative Government, Yadav said "today we do not need to take anyone's name."
"One thing is certain that BJP government will not come at Centre again and some of the NDA components will separate and come with us," he said.
He also refused to comment on RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav's reported reservation of having Samajwadi Party in the Government. "I do not take Laloo seriously".