Fernandes to campaign for SP in 2007 UP polls

Lucknow, Oct 12: NDA convenor and former Defence Minister George Fernandes today announced he would campaign for the ruling Samajwadi Party in the coming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, although he denied joining the party in near future.

Clarifying he was ''dedicated'' to SP chief and UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mr Fernandes told reporters here when his party Janata Dal (United) has alliance with a party like Apna Dal, then ''I am forced to campaign for SP.'' Upping the ante against his own party, Mr Fernandes said it has allied with a ''party of dacoits'' in UP. ''If my party has allied with dacoits, what can I do...I will campign for SP.'' Heaping praises on Mr Yadav, who is also a former Defence Minister, Mr Fernandes said his friendship with Mr Yadav was decades old and both had worked together for years.

''It is high time for all socialists to come on one platform and fight for a common cause to highlighting social issues.'' Although he denied there was a move by him to join SP, Mr Fernandes had remained closeted for more than an hour with Mr Yadav in the VVIP guest house here.

However, Mr Yadav's statement praising Mr Fernandes is enough indication of political changes in near future for the NDA convenor.

The CM said he had been raising slogans for Mr Fernandes for the last four decades as ''he is a great leader and a friend. He is such a big leader that his joining the SP totally rests on him.'' Defending Mr Fernandes in the Barak Missile purchase scam, the CM said he was being framed as part of a political move to register FIR against him. ''I will certainly open my mouth when time comes,'' Mr Yadav announced.

Earlier in the day, the two former defence ministers attended a function on the 38th death anniversary of Ram Manohar Lohia, where the CM announced to set up a Rs 200 crore Jai Prakash Narain International Institute in the state capital and assured to making efforts to bring all socialist leaders on common platform.

UNI

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