Mulayam slams third front proposal, says no truck with either BJP or Congress

Asked if he would work together with Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party, Yadav retorted: “How can I when the NCP is sharing power with the Congress in Maharashtra?"

Earlier, at a seminar here on the future of Muslims in Indian politics, the SP chief also launched a broadside against Laloo Prasad Yadav, another leading light of the erstwhile United Front. “How can I be on the same side as those who are in government in Bihar with Congress support?” he asked.

In an indirect reference to the Bahujan Samaj Party, he said that if this “secular party” came out categorically against the BJP, “I will ensure that the Uttar Pradesh government falls in two weeks.”

Yadav’s trusted lieutenant, Amar Singh, who also spoke on the occasion,chided Muslims for supporting the BSP despite the party forming the government twice in UP with the BJP’s backing. “Your heart is so big that you forget these things,” he remarked.

In a clear effort to portray the SP as the only secular party, he referred to a recent convention of Muslims organised by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and said that the community should be able to distinguish between those who are sincere and those are not.