Mulayam to attend UNPA meet tomorrow: AGP chief

Guwahati, Jul 2 (UNI) With the Samajwadi Party (SP) warming up to the Congress, the UNPA is scheduled to huddle in a crucial meet in New Delhi tomorrow to chart out the future course, while SP chief Mulayam Singh has promised to attend it, AGP chief and active UNPA advocate Brindabon Goswami informed here today.

''The UNPA will meet tomorrow to assess the situation and decide on the future roadmap,'' Mr Goswami said, reacting to reports of Mr Singh being likely to extend support to the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre over the nuclear deal if the Left pulls out.

He added that the SP supremo had assured of being present at the meeting. Mr Goswami will also attend the meeting.

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president, however, categorically stated that his party would sever all ties with any party that lends support to the Congress, sending signals that if the SP goes with the Congress, the third front UNPA could be left in a lurch.

The SP is a crucial member of the UNPA with its important role in northern Indian politics, while the AGP is a strong regional partner of the third front in the North East, with Mr Goswami pointing that the AGP and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had initiated the process for a third front by regional parties at the national level.

On the AGP's stand on the Indo-US nuke deal, Mr Goswami said the party was opposed to it, though a thorough study of the proposed bill and necessary amendments as suggested by experts could alter its decision at a later point of time.

Pointing to emergence of coalition politics at the Centre, he said, ''No single party can come to power. Regional parties will from now on play an important and decisive role in government formation.'' UNI SG DPM KLC1442