Kalyan's vote base will strengthen SP: Mulayam

In an effort to win back its Muslim vote bank apparently unhappy over the Mulayam Singh Yadav's friendship with former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Singh, the Samajwadi Party president on Wednesday said in Lucknow, that he had "never ever done anything against the interests of the minorities."

"Had I ever done anything unknowingly, I apologise for the same," he added.

Justifying the joining of hands with Kalyan, Mulayam said it has only strengthened party base in the western districts of Uttar Pradesh.

"Kalyan has not joined the Samajwadi Party but he has come to uproot BJP-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and his caste base has only strengthened us," Yadav told Muslim scholars who had come to the SP headquarters on the occasion of Rashtriya Lok Dal youth wing vice president Akhtar Ali's induction in the party.

"From Ghatmapur to Bulandshahr and to Bareilly, Kalyan's vote has come with us and has further strengthened the party," he said.

"I have never given a clean chit to Kalyan over his alleged role in the demolition of the Babri mosque and he has himself also apologised for the same," Mulayam added.

Seeking the support of those present on the occasion, including the imams of various mosques in, Yadav said that their support was vital for the party in winning the maximum number of seats.