Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032061381400.htm

National

UNPA intact, says Amar Singh

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) spokesman Amar Singh on Wednesday described reports of the Samajwadi Party cosying up to the Congress as “baseless and unfounded.” While he did not deny Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav meeting Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders, Mr. Singh insisted that these meetings were in relation to the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in which his party wanted to ensure victory of secular candidates.

Briefing mediapersons here, Mr. Singh said the UNPA was in tact and there was no question of the Samajwadi Party leaving the front.

Also, according to him, UNPA convenor and Telugu Desam Party leader N. Chandrababu Naidu was present at the meeting between Mr. Mulayam Singh and RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

Dwelling at length on the rationale for the meeting, he said the Samajwadi Party had decided that its two legislators in Bihar would vote with the RJD in the Rajya Sabha elections. Similarly, in M.P., the Samajwadi Party would support an independent candidate backed by Congress.