Forward Bloc to support Mulayam against BJP, Cong

Lucknow, Dec 29 (UNI) Admitting that bad law and order situation and corruption was rampant in Uttar Pradesh, All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) has nonetheless pledged support to chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for a ''bigger cause.'' ''Although we know that law and order situation is not good in UP and corruption is rampant, still for bigger cause we have to support Mr Yadav to fight the BJP and Congress,'' AIFB general secretary Debabrata Biswas said here.

Talking to UNI, the Rajya Sabha member said Mr Yadav must be supported for taking on BJP and Congress head-on. ''...but, due to 'opportunistic' approach, left parties are divided on the issue.'' He also criticised the SP government over the SEZ policy and the Dadri power project.

''While the CPI is opposed to Mulayam, the CPI(M) is supporting the Samajwadi Party government and even plans to contest the 2007 assembly poll in alliance with them,'' he claimed.

The AIFB leader said his party was yet to consider a pre-poll alliance in UP, but wanted a united left front for the election.

Commenting on the Reliance's Dadri power project and opposition by former Prime Minister V P Singh, Mr Biswas supported the issue raised by Mr Singh saying ''it is our duty to protect the interest of farmers.'' However, he noted the former Prime Minister was playing to the Congress' tune by weakening the secular forces by announcing that Jan Morcha will contest the 2007 UP assembly election.

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