Ruling out any pre-poll non-Congress, non-BJP coalition, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Thursday the Third Front would be formed only after the next general election.
He also made it clear he was not averse to becoming Prime Minister, although he said he wouldn’t be projected as PM candidate before the elections.
“The Third Front has always been formed after elections. The Samajwadi Party will contest the polls on its own. The Third Front will be formed only after assessing the situation emerging after the election,” he told the media at the end of the SP’s two-day national executive meeting in Kolkata.
To persistent questions by reporters, Yadav kept insisting there was absolutely no question of any pre-poll third alternative being formed. He also said there had been no talks with any party (either Trinamul or CPIM) on the Third Front.
When asked specifically if he foresaw early Lok Sabha elections, he said: “As things stand, I sometimes feel there could be early elections. But I do not think this will happen. But I cannot say with responsibility what will happen.”
In New Delhi, Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi ruled out mid-term elections, and said 'the government will complete its full term' and that 'elections will be held at the proper time'.
No bitterness with mamata, says Mulayam
In an apparent reference to the Left parties, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday acknowledged that his party would maintain cordial relations with parties whose ideology matched that of the SP. However, at the same time, he also claimed that he had excellent relations with the Trinamul Congress.
Asked if the bitterness created over Pranab Mukherjee’s presidential elections still clouded his relations with Mamata Banerjee he said there was no bitterness.
“We have continuously been in contact with Mamata sister. I immensely respect her style of functioning.... Akhilesh had an hour-long talks with Ms Banerjee yesterday and I am grateful that she gave him so much affection,” he added. He rejected the suggestion that the SP was trying to sail in two boats.
On the question of his prime ministerial aspirations, he said that he was no saint. “It depends on the opportunity. Even Deve Gowda got such an opportunity. So such an opportunity can come before the SP also. There can be no prophecy in politics,” he added.
Mr Yadav said both the Congress and the BJP had become weak and the situation suggested that there could be early Lok Sabha polls.