Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and general secretary Amar Singh on Sunday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and conveyed the decision of the party parliamentary board in this regard. Congress leaders are, however, tight-lipped over this development. Also, it was learnt that when the SP leadership sought an appointment with Sonia Gandhi, the Congress leader did not give a positive response.
Though both the leaders refused to speak to the media after the meeting, it was learnt that they had expressed their keenness to extend support to the government.
After the meeting, both the leaders drove to the residence of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, where LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan also joined them. With a section in the Congress urging the high command to dump the SP and the RJD, the Fourth Front leaders have reportedly discussed this issue in the meeting. Emerging out of the meeting, Amar Singh said: “We are with the secular forces, we are not for power”.
Earlier in the day, Amar Singh reminding the Congress of the crucial support lent to it by SP in July last year on the nuclear deal, Amar Singh said: “We supported the UPA on the nuclear deal without any conditions. We would be happy to lend positive support to secular forces... But what kind of support would depend on the Congress.” RJD chief Lalu Prasad also said that “whether I am part of the government or not is another thing. We will always support the UPA.”
Meanwhile, apparently anticipating a disciplinary action, SP rebel leader Azam Khan resigned as general secretary and member of the party’s parliamentary board on Sunday. Azam had opposed Jayaprada’s candidature in Rampur saying that crores of rupees were spent to ensure her victory.
UP Cong opposes SP, RLD
In other reports, the UP Congress on Sunday urged the party’s central leadership not to have any business with the SP or the RLD. “We should not have any truck with the SP and the RLD,” state Congress chief Reeta B Joshi said in Lucknow.
DHNS and Agencies
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