An alternative to the Congress-and BJP-led coalitions is likely to come about either before or after the general election as the country needs a third front, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has said.
In his first visit to Mysore after becoming Chief Minister, Mr. Yadav, an alumnus of the JSS Mahavidyapeeta-run Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE) here, visited the Suttur Math with his wife and Kannauj MP, Dimple Yadav, and children and sought the blessings of Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami.
JSS Mahavidyapeeta, which runs a chain of institutions including an engineering college at Noida in Uttar Pradesh, belongs to the Suttur Math.
Later, Mr. Yadav told journalists that there was a good scope for a third front; moreover, there was a third front in the past. “My party [the Samajwadi Party] is trying to forge a third alternative with secular parties. It may become a reality either before or after Lok Sabha elections.”
Mr. Yadav expressed his displeasure with the Union government’s handling of serious issues such as the Maoist menace, the border dispute with China, unemployment and farmers’ problems. Pointing to the recent Maoist attack on a Congress rally in Chhattisgarh, he said the UPA had failed to tackle the threat. These unresolved issues made a strong case for a third front.
Mr. Yadav evaded questions whether Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar would be invited to join the efforts at forming a third front. He said, “I cannot comment on this issue sitting in Mysore.”
As for the court ruling on his government’s move to drop criminal proceedings against Muslim youths, he said: “False cases had been booked against innocent Muslims. It is the duty of the government to drop false charges and provide justice to innocents. Not just in Uttar Pradesh, false cases have been booked against Muslims in other parts [of the country] too.”
