No merger with Congress: Ajit Singh

“There are no talks on the merger of RLD with any party,” said Singh. He evaded questions about his possible induction into the Union cabinet.

Singh said the RLD wanted to free UP from the “misrule of Mayawati government” and was looking for suitable options. “There have been preliminary talks with the Congress for a pre-poll alliance,” he said,adding that but none with the Samajwadi Party.

On Monday,Congress Legislature Party leader Pramod Tewari had hinted about his party’s pre-poll alliance with the RLD. He had told mediapersons in Muzaffarnagar that such an alliance would be politically beneficial to both the parties.

From 2003 to 2007,Singh was an ally of the Samjawadi Party. Earlier,he was a

minister in the Congress government of Narasimha Rao at the Centre. Later,he floated his own political party — the RLD.

Singh said the result of the next Assembly elections would depend on polarisation of “anti-Mayawati votes”. People are angry with the state government for its failure on the law and order front,he added.

“The BSP had won the Assembly elections in 2007 by making a promise to improve the law and order situation in the state,but it has only deteriorated. So,this is going to be a major issue in the next elections,” said Singh.

Sources in the RLD said Singh has directed party functionaries to identify seats from where it can field its candidates in 2012. On Tuesday morning,he met with his MLAs and received their feedback.