Samajwadi Party not sure how long it will support UPA

PTI Updated - September 20, 2012 at 05:03 PM.

Seeking to adopt a wait and watch attitude on its future strategy in the wake of the Trinamool Congress’ decision to withdraw support to the UPA, the Samajwadi Party today said while its supports the ruling dispensation as of now, it cannot say for how long it will continue.

“As of today, we support the Congress-led alliance. But for how long it will continue, I cannot say. What will happen in the future will be decided by the party leadership,” Ramgopal Yadav, SP General Secretary, told PTI.

On the issue of mid-term polls, he said, “Mid-term polls can happen even if the Government is in majority. Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh have also said the country is heading for mid-term polls. We are set to announce our candidates in a couple of days (for 2014 LS elections).”

To a question on whether the Government will concede to the protests by the Opposition parties and allies on the issue of FDI in retail, the diesel price hike and cap on LPG cylinders, Yadav said the Government has on several occasions said that it will move ahead with its policies but had to backtrack. He also said that as an ally, SP had the right to protest the “wrongdoings” of the Government.

Meanwhile, sources in the party said the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led party would not like to make its strategy public before October 10 when its arch-rival BSP is likely to make its stand public on the issue of supporting the UPA.

Published on September 20, 2012 06:19