NEW DELHI: The newly elected Janata Dal (United) President, Sharad Yadav, on Thursday said the party would remain with the National Democratic Alliance and former party president George Fernandes would remain the convenor.

Speaking to media persons after his return from Patna where he was declared elected to the post of the president against Mr. Fernandes, Mr. Yadav scotched all speculation about parting ways with the NDA. "I want to make this clear. We have been and will continue to be part of the NDA and our senior leader George Fernandes will continue in the post of NDA convenor."

About Mr. Fernandes' reaction to the manner in which the elections were conducted, Mr. Yadav said he met him after being elected and so did Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Mr. Fernandes met the two leaders but did not attend the national plenary session held after the National Council meeting in Patna.

Mr. Yadav said his priority would be to strengthen the party and bring into its fold all the old Janata Dal colleagues. His immediate focus would be Karnataka and Jharkhand. After this he would concentrate on the Uttar Pradesh elections. Asked about the "third alternative" recently announced by Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Telugu Desam Party Chief Chandrababu Naidu, Mr. Yadav said, "We have nothing to do with them."

He said, as of now, there were only two coalitions — the United Progressive Alliance and the NDA.

"There is no third front as of now. But situation might change after the results of the ongoing Assembly elections". He expressed his opposition to the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in India and said the money thus spent could be utilised for the benefit of farmers who were committing suicides in large numbers. He also opposed the privatisation of airports saying that only profit-making airports had been privatised.

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