It Was My Fault, I Should Have Been The Chief Minister: Mulayam Singh

Mainpuri: Samajwadi Party supremo on Sunday trained his guns on Congress once again, holding the grand old party responsible for the dismal performance of the SP in the recently-concluded Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. "It was my fault, I should have been the chief minister," Mulayam said.

Mulayam stressed the need for ramping up efforts to strengthen the Samajwadi Party, adding that Congress had left no stone unturned to "ruin" his life.

The 77-year-old member of parliament from Azamgarh brought the Babri masjid demolition once again to the centre stage. "The Muslims will not vote for the Congress party because the Babri Masjid was demolished under their watch," Mulayam said.

To a question on his brother Shivpal Yadav deciding to form a new front, he said efforts should be made to strengthen the Samajwadi Party.

Shivpal, who retained the Jaswantnagar Assembly seat during the recent elections, has said that a secular front would be formed if Akhilesh Yadav did not hand over the reins of the party back to his father Mulayam in three months.

On Shivpal Yadav's comment terming Ramgopal Yadav as "Shakuni", Mulayam said, "Whatever he (Shivpal) said is true.

Attempts were made to ensure his defeat and money was also spent for it".

The SP patron also attacked Prime Minister Narendar Modi and dubbed him as a "liar".

"He (Modi) had lied to the people and promised Rs 15 lakh in every account but even Rs 15,000 was not given," he said.

The Samajwadi Party had witnessed a bitter feud between uncle Shivpal and nephew Akhilesh in the run up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Many in the party blamed the power struggle between Akhilesh and his uncle Shivpal for the Samajwadi Party's dismal performance.

The Samajwadi Party contested the polls under Akhilesh's leadership but suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP.

The SP tally in the assembly elections has come down to 47 from 227 in the 403-member House.

Following a bitter feud between the father and the son, Akhilesh had snatched reins of the party from Mulayam and their fight also reached the Election Commission.