New front: Akilesh seeks Naidu’s help

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Hyderabad: Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav on his two-day maiden visit to the state, touched on the Third Front issue, wooed the Yadava community, and shared ideas on other issues with the state’s political leaders. He was in the city to participate in the Akil Bharat Yadav Mahasabha.
Yadav visited the two Yadav leaders, Revenue Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy and TD Greater Hyderabad chief T. Srinivas Yadav on Sunday. He briefed Union minister Chiranjeevi on the schemes undertaken by UP tourism. “I used to watch Chiranjeevi movies when studying in Mysore. I am happy to meet him as Union Minister now,” said the UP CM.
“I haven’t come here to discuss politics. I came here to participate in the Yadav Mahasabha. I decided to call on the elders and we exchanged views on many issues,” he said.
One of those issues, according to a source, was the Third Front. Yadav pressed TD chief Chandrababu Naidu to take an active part in forming the Third Front, sources said.
He told Naidu that the Samajwadi Party would be the gainer if the BJP makes Gujarat Chief Minister Narender Modi its Prime Ministerial candidate since there is a sizeable Muslim community in UP that will be against the BJP.
Naidu in turn informed Yadav that the Telugu Desam has promised 100 seats to Backward Classes and the Rs 10,000 crore sub-plan for BCs.
Answering a question, Yadav said, "Support to the Food Security Bill will be taken by Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) in the best interests of the country."
He dismissed criticism of the poor law and order situation in his State. "The law and order situation is good in UP. We are undertaking innovative practices to develop the State."
Next: Visit not political: UP CM

Visit not political: UP CM
In the city to address the national executive meeting of the All India Yadav Mahasabha on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Kumar Yadav chose not to talk politics.
Speaking to the media, the UP CM said that his trip was meant only for attending a community gathering and there were no political intentions behind it.
Sidetracking questions about the upcoming general elections Yadav said, “Whichever party gets majority, they will form the government.” He also sidestepped questions about Gujarat CM Modi being a Prime Ministerial candidate.
When asked about the law and order situation in UP he said, “We are taking all measures. Criminals will be punished severely.” About his Hyderabad connection, the CM said that  the best thing was discovering the connect between Hyderabadi and Lucknowi Nawabi food.
“It is always nice to visit South India. I have been to Chennai and Karnataka and when I got an opportunity to visit Hyderabad, I didn’t want to miss it. And the best part is the food here.”
He added that the Yadav Mahasabha brought together leaders from different political parties to interact.
The event, which was held at the Shubhma Convention Centre in LB Nagar, was attended by ex-chief ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs and the managing committee of the AP State Yadav Committee.
Raghuveera Reddy Yadav, Anjan Kumar Yadav, Chairman of AP Legislative Council K. Chakrapani Yadav, All India Yadav Committee president Uday Pratap Singh Yadav and Minister of Forest and Environment of Haryana, Captain Ajay Singh Yadav among others were present.
Next: ‘Jagan is close to me, Naidu close to Dad’

‘Jagan is close to me, Naidu close to Dad’
Ch. V.M. Krishna Rao | DC
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav says alliances can be formed only after the general elections as the situation is very much fluid now. Excerpts:
Q. When will the so called Third Front with non-Congress and non-BJP parties be formed?
A. I cannot say now. The political situation in the country is very fluid. It will take some more time to talk about the formation of the Third Front.
Q. Will it be before the General Elections or after?
A. I think it will be only after the next polls. I don’t think there are chances of forming an alternative front before the polls.
Q. Why? Like-minded parties could forge alliances and make adjustments before the polls.
A. As I told you, the situation is very fluid. Each party wants to contest alone and get some respectable seats in their kitty. They want to watch post-poll political developments and take a decision according to their strength in the Lok Sabha.
Q. Would you say that all parties have become more opportunistic than ideological?
A. I don't want to comment on those lines, but that seems to be the reality.
Q. Who would be a better choice to invite to join the third front, the Telugu Desam or YSR Congress?
A. That’s a difficult question. Jagan Mohan Reddy is close to me. We used to share ideas as MPs. We belong to the same age group. But Chandrababu Naidu is very close to my Dad, Mulayam Singh. I cannot say which one of them is preferred for the Third Front now.
Anyway, I am not a member of the Samajwadi Party’s Central Parliamentary Board which will take such decisions. Netaji (Mulayam Singh) will decide everything.