Congress & SP are together for LS polls, says Mulayam

Notwithstanding the hiccups over seat sharing in Uttar Pradesh between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party , SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday claimed that the two parties will face the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in 'perfect coordination'.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Mulayam told media persons that despite the visible tug-of-war over sharing the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the country's most populous state, all was well between the two parties.

"Nothing can distance us from each other, nor are there any differences between us; so you can rest assured that we will not be adversaries in the elections," he claimed.

"There is perfect understanding between the two parties and even if we do not finalise a formal alliance, we will still be together in the elections."

When a scribe asked what the stumbling block in the seat sharing arrangement was, Mulayam shot back, "As far as we are concerned , there is no hurdle and we have decided to remain friends with the Congress; so this query should be addressed to them."

Speaking on the Election Commission's notice, reprimanding him for allegedly violating the election code of conduct and distributing cash during a function in Etawah, Mulayam said, "We have already sent our reply to the Election Commission."

He refused to give details of the SP's answer to the Election Commission, which had slapped a notice on the party, asking it to furnish an explanation within 48 hours.

"We have given our reply before the EC's deadline and I am quite confident that the commission will be fully satisfied with our reply," he declared.

Speaking on his new-found friendship with former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Singh, he remarked, "My relationship with Kalyan Singh is fine. Even though he has suffered a fracture of the lower limb, he will be campaigning for our party very soon."

When a scribe sought his comments on the revival of the Third Front with BSP chief Mayawati at its centrestage, Mulayam answered curtly, "They have not had a taste of her style. They will soon learn a lesson of their life. I know it because I have experienced it."