Next govt won’t be Cong-led: Amar Singh

“There can’t be a government without Congress but it won’t be Congress-led,” he told UK-based Daily Telegraph.

“They (Congress) will be in a weaker position. It will be too difficult for Manmohan Singh (to return as prime minister) because there is a dogma around him,because he joined forces with the Americans,” Singh said.

The Congress has “lost its clout” among allies,he said. The SP leader said Mulayam will be the next Prime Minister with the support of the Communist-led Third Front and the backing of his “backward caste” allies in Bihar.

These allies,including RJD chief Lalu Prasad and LJP supremo Ramvilas Paswan,are likely to join with the left parties to “minimise” Congress influence in a new government,Singh was quoted as saying.

According to Singh,the third front,which has reached out to BSP chief Mayawati,will dump her as a price of their members joining the new government.

He said the election would see Congress and the BJP lose ground to smaller Left and caste-based parties.

The SP General Secretary also said on the ground level,issues like power and water supply will be important but the election will be dominated by “the three Cs — cash,criminals and caste.”