Thursday, December 30 2004 16:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Buoyed by the victory in recent Lok Sabha by-elections in Mainpuri and Akbarpur, Samajwadi Party President and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today (Dec 30, 2004) said he would continue to work for the formation of the third front and ruled out joining the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government even if invited.

"Samajwadi Party will not join the UPA Government. We will continue to support it from outside," he told reporters when asked whether he would join the Congress-led Government at the Centre if invited.

With regard to formation of the third front, the Chief Minister said he would continue to work for the creation of the Third Front, minus BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and Congress.

Asked about CPM (Communist Party of India- Marxist) leader H S Surjeet rejecting the proposal of a Third Front, the Samajwadi Party chief said, the CPM leader has only said this was not the time but did not say anything about the future possibilities.

To a specific question whether his planned Third Front would be an alternative to the UPA Government at the Centre, Yadav jokingly said, "Third front is sitting in the UPA Government. Please try to convince them (about the need for a third front)."

About the BJP leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's recent statement in Lucknow that his party would have no objection in working with the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Chief Minister said he was ready to join hands with anybody committed to the development of the State and India.

"When the question comes about the country, he is ready to work with anybody. I hope nobody would say that they will not work unitedly for the country," he said adding that SP and BJP were ideologically different parties.