Mulayam to prevent BJP-led govt formation

In a significant statement, Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose Samajwadi Party could play a key role in the event of a hung Parliament, said he would work to prevent formation of a BJP-led govt "at any cost".

In a significant statement, Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose Samajwadi Party could play a key role in the event of a hung Parliament, said on Friday that he would work to prevent the formation of a BJP-led government "at any cost", making it clear that he was not a candidate for Prime Ministership "at the moment".

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"Samajwadi Party will make all efforts to prevent BJP from forming the government at any cost. What shape the government will take will be decided after the results are out on May 13," he told TV channels when asked about reports that SP would join the NDA after the elections.

He parried questions on whether he was a candidate for the Prime Ministership but asserted his party would play a "significant role" in whoever becomes the next Prime Minister.

Yadav said if smaller secular parties were in a "better position" after the elections, he would meet and discuss with their leaders about the formation of Third Front.

To a question whether he would be the leader of the Front and a candidate for the top post, the SP Chief said "I have never tried to become a leader, not even the Chief Minister. This all depends upon the people. But what you are indicating about Prime Ministership, I am not a candidate for the post at the moment".

Asserting that Third Front would be definitely in place, the Samajawadi Party Chief said he was not a candidate for the Prime Minister's post at this moment but his party would play an important role in the formation of the next government.