Date:25/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092506401200.htm

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Decision on Fernandes in a fortnight, says SP

Staff Correspondent

TOUGH STAND: Samajwadi Party leaders Jaya Bachchan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh at the Hubli Airport on Sunday before they left for Davanagere to attend a party convention. — Photo: Kiran Bakale

HUBLI: Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh has said the party would take a decision on inviting the former Union Minister George Fernandes into the party fold within a fortnight.

He was speaking to presspersons during his brief stopover at the airport here, while on his way to Davanagere.

Mr. Singh said that talks with George Fernandes were held but no final decision taken.

Amar Singh, general secretary of Samajwadi Party, said that unless Mr. Fernandes left the NDA, there was no question of accommodating him in the party.

"He should sever all ties with the NDA. Then only the party would admit him," he said.

Mr. Singh said both the UPA Government at the Centre and the BJP-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka had `failed miserably.' To highlight this the party had begun a movement against them in the State under the leadership of party State unit president S. Bangarappa.