I am not in the race for PM’s post, says Mulayam

Mulayam made it clear that the Congress was not an “untouchable” and he was in favour of a seat adjustment with the party — if not alliance — to ensure the defeat of the BJP. He held that the election to the Lok Sabha was crucial and any dithering on having a poll alliance with the Congress in the light of pre-conceived notions about the party would mar the prospects of the secular forces.

Mulayam was, however, non-committal on the issue of an electoral alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).Vehemently opposing the possible entry of the RJD into the United Front, he said a party and its leaders facing corruption charges could not be given berths in the UF.

Meanwhile, in a significant development, senior Congress leader Ram Kahan Singh Yadav, a close friend and co-founder of Jagannath Mishra’s Bihar Congress Bachao Manch, today met Mulayam and expressed their desire to contest the coming elections under the banner of the 17-party Left and Democratic Front.

It is now evident that the Bihar Congress has split and while the official Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) is likely to go with the RJD, the Mishra faction will align with the Left. This is sure to hit the prospects of the Congress as most of the Congressmen who have some clout in the State are reportedly with Mishra.

But the BPCC does not feel threatened. Commenting on Yadav’s meeting with Mulayam, party general secretary Kumud Ranjan Jha said: “With the high command reluctant to accommodate the leaders close to Mishra, they were left with no alternative but to join hands with the Left parties.” During the meeting, Mulayam reportedly assured Yadav of all possible help. Meanwhile, Mulayam blamed the State government for having failed to protect the lives of the people.