'Oppn may field joint candidates against SP'

Lucknow, Aug 29: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the Opposition may field joint candidates against his party.

His statement comes close on the heels of Election Commission's decision that assembly elections in four states, including UP, could be held before March 17.

Addressing party workwers here to mark the completion of three years in office, Mr Yadav said Opposition had been targetting the state government on shaky issues.

''The attack is multi-pronged...they are terming our achievements as cheap political stunts. It is possible the Opposition fields joint candidates against us,'' Mr Yadav asserted.

''Farmers and their happiness in UP is our biggest achievement.

Our government cleared dues worth Rs 18,000 crore to farmers in three years, whereas dues worth Rs 11,542 crore were cleared in the past 30 years,'' he claimed.

He said the state government's decision to provide free sarees to married women living below poverty line (BPL) was a landmark achievement. ''Once again, the Opposition termed the allocation of Rs 250 crore for the purpose as a waste of money...But, I term it as an investment as anyone, who has seen the plight of poor women in villages would appreciate the decision,'' he stressed.

Mr Yadav opined every government had a right to implement its policies. ''If the policies are worng, people would vote against it in elections,'' he maintained.

He also defended the provision of Rs 500 per month unemployment allowance. ''It is not an alm, but a fund to ensure they continued their education, and found a meaniningful job,'' he added.

The Chief Minister defended non-implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) in the state. UP's revenue is more than states, which have implemented VAT,'' he claimed.

While asking partymen to be prepared for elections, he said hardwork and not speeches would help the party return to power.

Maintaining he was in the best of health, Mr Yadav refuted media reports about his possible treatment in the US. ''I am healthier than any youth present here,'' he added.

Speaking on the occasion, UP Development Council chairman and SP general secretary Amar Singh slammed former prime minister and Jan Morcha leader Vishwanath Pratap Singh for protesting the construction of the mega power project at Dadri by Reliance Energy.

''He wants to plough the fields at Dadri to protest the project.

I wonder why is he not going to Haryana where the state government has acquired 28,000 hectare of cultivable land for another project by Mukesh Ambani,'' he quipped.

He also blamed the former PM for creating a caste division in the country.

Mr Singh asked Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi to check facts with farmers before making statements in Lok Sabha. ''Partial information is like a half-baked bread,'' he added terming the young MP as 'Raj Kunwar.'

UNI