Not in PM race: Mulayam

Yadav,however,refrained from commenting on Third Front. “No one has talked to me about it and I do not know anything about it. Besides,why should we discuss others in our gathering?” he said. Asked about the Left leaders who once shook hands with him to form the Third Front and are now with Mayawati,Yadav said,“I was with her once and I had an experience. Now,they will also know when they come in contact with her.”

The former UP CM referred to Left leaders as “friends” and admitted to having an understanding with Congress. “If we strike an alliance,it is good. But if there is no formal alliance,we will have good understanding,” he said,ruling out any clash in interests where both parties will be fielding their candidates. “There is no misunderstanding or confusion among us,even on Kalyan Singh. It is a friendship between leaders with a mass base who will campaign from one platform and its results will be visible after the Lok Sabha elections,” Yadav said.

Meanwhile,taking a cue from his party’s general secretary Amar Singh,the latter once said, “For survival of a political party,parcha (publicity),kharcha (money) and charcha (discussion) is required ¿ the SP chief said “this Holi has brought the Samajwadi Party in charcha at least”. Yadav was referring to cash-for-vote for which the Election Commission has slapped a notice on him. The SP chief said his party had only been following the age-old traditions of Holi revelry. He said his reply had been submitted to the EC.