George Fernandes likely to join Samajwadi Party - Mulayam

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has disclosed that former Federal Minister George Fernandes is likely to join the Samajwadi Party soon.

Speaking to reporters at Hubli enroute to attending a party convention in Davangere in Central Karnataka, Yadav said two to three rounds of talks have already been held between his party and Fernandes on the matter. The Samajwadi Party is expected to take a final decision on admitting Fernandes in a fortnight’s time, he said.

“George has been knocking on the doors of Samajwadi Party and was willing to join the party unconditionally. The party would take a final decision on this matter in the next fifteen days after discussing it with the national committee of the party”, Yadav said.

Favouring the inclusion of Fernandes into the party, Yadav said the Samajwadi Party’s base in Bihar and Karnataka would also be strengthened, as the former Federal Minister, who is currently with the JD (U), was an influential politician in these regions.

However, Samajwadi Party’s General Secretary Amar Singh, who was accompanying Mulayam Singh Yadav, said his party would accommodate Fernandes only if he resigns as the convenor of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which comprises the BJP.

“There is no question of accommodating him in the party unless he resigns as convenor of NDA and severs all his ties with the NDA. There are a few difficulties for Fernandes in quitting the NDA immediately. Hence the process of his entry into the Samajwadi Party fold has been delayed”, Amar Singh added.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was also accompanied by veteran Bollywood actresses Jaya Prada and Jaya Bachchan, later addressed a large gathering of people at Davangere and lashed out at the Federal Government for branding Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as a terrorist organisation.

“The SIMI had no wrong in Uttar Pradesh. Yet, the Congress-led UPA had branded them as a terror outfit”, he said.

Yadav also came down heavily on former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda for pretending to be secular, but allowing his party to tie-up with the BJP to form a coalition Government in Karnataka. “Gowda pretends to be a secular leader, but he is not”, he warned.

“The BJP, Congress and JD (S) may appear like different parties from outside. But they are not. Basically, they are all the same”, he added.