No truck with Congress, no way: Mulayam Singh

Defence Minister and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday categorically ruled out a coalition with the Congress at the Centre.

He admitted that Congress president Sitaram Kesri had communicated to him "certain problems about the United Front government'' before withdrawing support. These had been referred to Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, and Kesri was assured remedial action.

The SP chief also rejected outright the Congress demand for dethroning Deve Gowda from the UF leadership. Yadav reminded the Congress its support was unconditional.

Yadav said he was issuing a fresh appeal to Kesri to reconsider his decision. Observing that the UF government was formed to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from coming to power he said, ''I appeal to Kesri to continue the support till the communal forces are completely crushed.''

Asked what threat the UF perceived from the BJP as the party has already announced its decision not to form a government at the Centre, Yadav said the saffron brigade could never be trusted. ''Look what happened in Uttar Pradesh. Despite their denials they ultimately formed the government with the Bahujan Samaj Party,'' he pointed out.

He said his party was not afraid of a mid-term poll; but there is no guarantee that the same political deadlock would not be the outcome. "That is why we want to avoid a poll now,'' he said. However, he added that his party is readying for such an eventuality.