Haridwar: Advocating a third front ahead of next year's Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, ruling Samajwadi Party's national executive on Saturday began discussing threadbare steps to bolster its electoral prospects in the state as also in Uttaranchal.
The two-day meet, being chaired by Uttar Pradesh chief minister and party supremo Mulayam Singh, will take a close look at the political scenario in the two states and chalk out its poll strategy to retain power in Uttar Pradesh and unseat the Congress in Uttaranchal.
Mulayam strongly favours formation of a third front, comprising all socialist leaders to take on both the Congress and the BJP.
The recent meeting in Lucknow between Mulayam and George Fernandes, who is facing isolated in JD(U), is being viewed in that context. Farnadese has openly declared support to Samajwadi Party in the UP polls.
Mulayam has already called upon leaders believing in socialist ideologies to join hands and come together on a single platform.
Samajwadi Party heads the ruling coalition in UP with Congress as its partner. But the relations between the two parties are starined because of allegations and counter- allegations from both sides. The SP also extends outside support to UPA at the Centre.
Highly critical of the Centre's economic policies, Mulayam has cited inflation, unemployment and plight of farmers as examples to drive home his point.
At the same time, while attacking the Centre, the UP chief minister has highlighted different welfare measures adopted by his government for education of girl child, poverty eradication and welfare of farmers.
Asserting that his government has done a lot for the welfare of people, Yadav told reporters that none could pose a challenge to his party at the hustings and added that Rahul Gandhi, who is expected to head the Congress campaign, cannot stop the SP from returning to power in UP "which has been transformed into Uttam (excellent) Pradesh."
SP is believed to have chosen this pilgrim town for its national executive as the party is eyeing Uttaranchal, where the Congress is in power.
Besides Mulayam Singh Yadav, senior party leaders, including Amar Singh, Janeshwar Mishra, Ramgopal Yadav, Sahid Siddiqui, a number of party MPs, MLAs and state ministers are participating in the deliberations.
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