Mulayam supports formation of non-Cong, non-BJP front

Despite the failure of the 'Third Front' to take off, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav today supported the formation of an alternative grouping of non-Congress and non-BJP parties and ruled out joining the ruling UPA.

Leaders from CPI and Telugu Desam Party also supported the move and asked Yadav to take a lead in giving shape to "alternative politics".

Yadav, CPI's A B Bardhan and TDP's Nama Nageshwar Rao, besides others, supported a resolution which called for the need to set up an "alternative politics" in the form of a political formation which can form a government in case the two major political parties fail to do so.

The leaders had gathered at the launch of a book on the speeches made by socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia in Lok Sabha. All-India Forward Block's Debabrata Biswas, jurist Rajendar Sachar and veteran journalist and writer Kuldip Nayar were also present on the occasion.

CPI leader D Raja later said he is not part of the resolution. He, however, supported the idea saying while a beginning has been made, it was necessary to take a fresh initiative to provide the country with an alternative to run the government as both Congress and BJP have failed the people.

The leaders expressed reservations at a line in the resolution which suggested that the members of the grouping contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under a common symbol. The line was later deleted.

"The meeting is of the opinion that although the goal appears remote and difficult to obtain in present circumstances, a beginning must be made...political parties not willing to merge in this new formation may fight election as Third Front. But they should extend support to the new formation by leaving some seats," the resolution read.

Suggesting the formation of a 'coordination committee' as a step towards forming the new grouping, the resolution said that in the event of a possibility of a non-Congress, non-BJP government, "either the new formation or the Third Front may form the government with outside support of the other formation."

Later, talking to reporters, Yadav ruled out joining the UPA government. When asked whether he has been invited to join the Manmohan Singh Cabinet, he said "neither has the Prime Minister called me (in the regard), nor has the SP ever considered joining the government."