The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has said that the country will not give a third term to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Responding to a remark made by the Prime Minister that he will continue in public life after 2014 too, the party said, Singh, a reluctant politician had shown his true colours by making such an “audaciously ambitious” statement.

BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said the performance of Singh as Prime Minister in the last nine years was a matter of concern.

“What his personal ambition or desire is entirely for him or his party to decide. The people may, therefore, despair the very idea of even remotely enduring him to be the Prime Minister for five more years,” Prasad added.

He said under the UPA regime, the current account deficit had touched 6.7 per cent, which was worse than in 1991.

“India’s growth story is practically over. People have lost all hope in this dispensation. Even trade and industrial bodies are raising critical questions about the manner in which India is governed,” Prasad said.

Third Front is history

Taking a dim view of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s recent statements that a Third Front would emerge after the next elections, Prasad said such a combination had no relevance at present.

“India of 2013 is not the India of 1996 or 1997,” he added.

The BJP, along with the Congress, has been critical of Mulayam’s statements favouring a Third Front. Prasad also downplayed Mulayam’s statement praising senior BJP leader, L.K. Advani. He ruled out an alliance with SP.

“We have basic differences with Mulayam. So, no alliance with the SP is possible either in the present or in the future,” Prasad said.

“I am not afraid of anyone and that is why I speak the truth. I have never betrayed anyone. On the other hand, I was betrayed many times. I do what I say. There is no difference between what I say and what I do,” Mulayam said in Lucknow, adding that Congress has cheated its supporters whenever it was in power.

He, however, has denied the report that SP will also withdraw the support to the Government.

> jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in