Mulayam to unite "secular parties"

UP CM "would make all effort" to unite parties against BJP after polls, but "hasn't decided" if he would join Cong-led govt.

Under attack sometimes from secular parties and constantly wooed by rival camps, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday made it clear that he would make all efforts to unite secular parties on one platform against the BJP.

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However, he still declined to confirm or deny if he would support a Congress-led government after the elections.

He claimed his Samajwadi Party would be a force to "reckon with" after the polls and would play a "decisive role" in the formation of the next government.

"Our endeavour will be to bring all secular parties on one platform to prevent the BJP from coming to power," Yadav told PTI when asked about reports that his Samajwadi Party could back the NDA in the event of a hung Parliament.

Refusing to open his cards, Yadav stonewalled all questions about his party's post-poll strategy saying issues will be decided after the results are out on May 13.

"We will decide on our role in government formation after the poll results are out on May 13. Our party will emerge as a major force to reckon with after the polls and would play a decisive role in government formation," he said.

He parried a question whether his party, which had reservations in 1999 over Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, would support a Congress-led governemnt.