Will set no preconditions to join Third Front: Mulayam

Exuding confidence that the Third Front will form the next government at the Centre, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday said his party would set no preconditions to join it and help form the alliance in national interest.

Addressing a rally at Karhal in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district, Yadav said he was already "in touch with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and on February 8 they will discuss about the formation of the Third Front".

Challenging BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to respond to his questions on development in Gujarat, Yadav said Modi's state stood nowhere in development when compared to UP and what his party's government had done for the people of the state.

"Modi has no answer to the questions I asked. He knows how to level false accusations but so far has failed to answer my questions," Yadav said, challenging Modi to enter into a debate with him on his various claims, including development.

"But he is running away from a debate as he knows well that all his false claims will be exposed," the SP chief said.

Accusing the Congress-led UPA government of "abusing CBI" against him for nine years and conspiring to send him to jail, Yadav said the agency had, however, given him a clean chit.

"Congress is wrapped in corruption and scandals, and has lost public confidence. Corruption and sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities have made the people's lives miserable," Yadav said.

Exhorting SP workers to ensure maximum seats for the party, Yadav said the upcoming elections were very crucial and without his party no government would be formed at the Centre and it would be the best opportunity for him to become the prime minister.

Yadav recalled that his government in 1990 had prevented the demolition of Babri mosque, and claimed though 16 lives were lost he upheld the trust of the minorities which they always had reposed in him.

He claimed within a short period his party's government had started several schemes to uplift the downtrodden, and initiated programmes in the field of education, health, transport, and for farmers, teachers, traders, lawyers and all other sections of the society.