Bitter foes to bedfellows? Mulayam may back Cong

PENDULUM SWINGS: Mulayam says soured relations with Congress are a thing of past.

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Keywords: Congress, Unpa

Lucknow: Congress’ former bitter foe may turn out to be a friend in need. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday gave his clearest indication yet of supporting the Congress.

In an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN, Mulayam, also the chairperson of the Third Front alliance, said his soured relation with Congress was a closed chapter now.

“There are no permanent friends and foes in politics. The decisions have to be taken depending upon the need of the hour. There can be differences of opinion and I don't want to comment on a closed chapter,” he said.

Mulayam also ruled out a possibility of any difference in the crucial UNPA meet on July 3 which will take a decision on supporting the UPA government at the Centre over the nuclear deal issue.

“We haven’t spoken with anyone about our stand till now. On July 3, we have called for a meeting of the UNPA and that's when we will decide. Till now, the UNPA has taken all big decisions in unity. Same will happen this time around too,” he said.

Referring to the nuclear deal, Mulayam said while the Left and the SP operate on “same ideologies”, it’s the “need of the hour” that decides political leanings and equations.

"There have been many political battles. The Left and the SP have always been together. We will stay together. Everything else that's being talked about in the media is mere speculation. SP hasn't decided on its stand yet. A decision will be taken after the UNPA meeting," he said.

Mulayam also blamed the Mayawati-led state government for the price rise in the state. “We maintained that VAT should not be imposed in UP. Therefore, the government is responsible for price rise in the state,” he said.