Samajwadi Party is ready for mid-term Lok Sabha polls but it is supporting the UPA government to keep communal forces at bay, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday.
At the same time, the SP leader ruled out the possibility of joining the UPA Government at the Centre but pledged to continue its crucial support to UPA-II after Trinamool Congress walked out of the ruling alliance on FDI and other issues. SP has with 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
“What benefit will FDI bring to farmers and traders who eke out a living from small stores? Samajwadi Party will not take any decision which will affect farmers and small traders,” he told newspersons.
“As far as (mid-term) polls are concerned, SP is ready...Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) has clearly stated that SP has always taken steps to keep communal forces at bay,” Akhilesh said.
Discounting the possibility of joining the UPA Government, he said, “With limited time left for the Government, who will want to join it?”
Samajwadi Party had participated in the Bharat Bandh on September 20 to protest against the FDI in multi-brand retail and hike in diesel prices.