Mulayam to work towards Third Front

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav said today that he would continue to work for the formation of a third front, which would not include the BJP or the Congress. ‘‘The Samajwadi Party will not join the UPA Government,’’ Mulayam said at a press conference today. ‘‘We will continue to support it from outside,’’ he added.

Mulayam said CPI(M) leader H.S. Surjeet had not rejected the idea of a third front, but had said that it was not possible yet. When asked if his planned Third Front would be an alternative to the present UPA dispensation at the Centre, Mulayam, in a clear reference to Left parties and Congress-allies like DMK and NCP, said, ‘‘The Third Front is sitting in the UPA Government.’’

‘‘Please try to convince them (about the need for a third front),’’ he added. The strength of the BJP and the Congress in the Lok Sabha was one-third each, of the total seats, Mulayam said, adding that the rest was obviously the Third Front. ‘‘Who can deny this?’’ he said.