Karat, Mulayam see third front in power after polls

CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Sunday claimed there is a strong “anti-Congress wave” in the country, which would benefit the third front and not the BJP. “Forget that the country will have a Congress government this time,” he told reporters in Ludhiana.

Asked if they would seek the support of the Congress in forming government, he shot back, “It is for the Congress to see whether it has to support secular forces or not.”

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav claimed that neither the BJP nor the Congress would get majority in the Lok Sabha elections, and the third front would form government at the Centre.

Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, Mulayam said it would be decided after the elections as to who would be the prime minister in the third front government.

The former defence minister accused the UPA government of failing to provide adequate facilities to soldiers on the border. “If the third front comes to the power, special attention will be paid to jawans and farmers,” said the SP supremo.

With parties in Uttar Pradesh trying to woo Muslim voters, he claimed the SP enjoyed the support of 80 per cent members of the community in the state.

Announcing a slew of sops, he said interest-free loan would be given to farmers, besides free water for irrigation.

He added that special reservation would be given to Muslims.