The Samajwadi Party on Monday voiced its opposition to the formation of a Telangana State. Its president Mulayam Singh Yadav said the party was opposed to division of States, as smaller units were prone to problems.
“We are against formation of small States. This creates new problems. The Naxal problem is because of this,” he said at a press conference here.
The SP has traditionally been opposed to reorganisation of States even as its major rival, the Bahujan Samaj Party, not only favoured the idea, but during its rule had passed a resolution in the Assembly for “trifurcation” of the State into Bundelkhand, Pashchim Pradesh and Purvanchal. At a recent Cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ajit Singh of the Rashtriya Lok Dal revived his demand for a Harit Pradesh to be carved out of western Uttar Pradesh, which is his area of influence.
Mr. Yadav, however, declined to comment on whether he would talk to Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu, who is now protesting the formation of Telangana. He was in touch with Mr. Naidu for forging a post-poll alliance for a third front, but he had no plans to speak to the TDP chief on the Telangana issue, he added.
