Lucknow: Downplaying the reports of Samajwadi Party joining the UPA-II government at the Centre, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav would take the final call on the issue.
Though showing his inclination towards the party’s continued support to the Manmohan Singh government from outside, Yadav said the party supremo would be going to Delhi and he was authorised to take the decision on the matter.
“SP is already supporting the Centre from outside and had done so during the UPA-1 regime too,” he told reporters after the oath ceremony of one cabinet and four Ministers of State (Independent) charge at Raj Bhawan.
The UP CM maintained that decision on joining the Centre was an important issue and it needed thorough discussions within the party and the ultimate decision would have to be taken by the party president.
Earlier reports quoting Congress General Secretary Digivijay Singh said the party has no objection if SP joins the Centre.
UP cabinet minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, younger brother of Mulayam Singh Yadav, also said only the SP supremo had been authorised to take a decision on the matter.
He said ‘Netaji’ is going to New Delhi today and he will take a decision after consulting the senior party leaders of Parliament.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Azam Khan, who took the oath of the cabinet minister for the second time within four-days, ridiculed the statement of Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh.
” The SP has to make a decision on whether to join the Centre or not,” he said adding that the party never takes any cognisance of any media reports. (UNI)
