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BSP not keen on Third Front: Mayawati

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May 19, 2012 20:39 IST

The Bahujan Samaj Party on Saturday indicated that it would not be aligning itself with any Third Front in the President's election or the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"Our party has not thought about that. We are not going to fall into any traps," party supremo Mayawati told a press conference when asked whether she would initiate any move for the formation of a non-National Democratic Alliance and non-United Progressive Alliance coalition for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

She also sounded dismissive about the candidature of former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma -- floated by the Biju Janata Dal and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam -- for the post of the President.

"I am hearing about Sangma from you only or through the newspapers. But there is no clarity. So what can I say," was her response when asked whether her party would support the tribal leader's candidature.

The former UP chief minister said she cannot speak on the issue as both the UPA and the NDA are yet to announce any names, but said she would back a candidate who fits into her party's "line of movement".

"Our party is keeping an eye on all the parties on the issue of the Presidential nominee. We first want to see what candidate the UPA and the NDA field. As soon as they bring forth their candidates, our party will decide. We will support a candidate who is suitable to us in the line of our party's movement," she said.

"When it is not clear as to who is the candidate of the UPA or the NDA, what can I say about the merits or demerits of a particular candidate? Whichever candidate comes before us, we will see whether he suits our party's line of movement. We will support whoever fits in our party line of movement," Mayawati said.

The BSP has 21 members in the Lok Sabha and 15 in the Rajya Sabha. The party has 80 MLAs.

Replying to questions about apprehension being expressed over whether the UPA government will complete its full term, Mayawati said that her party was not in the government but supported it from outside to keep the communal forces at bay.

"We have supported the UPA government at the Centre to weaken the communal forces. We are supporting it from outside. Whether the government will complete its full term or not, you should ask the allies of the government," she said.

The BSP chief also refused to comment on the performance of the UPA government.

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