Mulayam keeps Congress guessing on presidential race

New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Monday said his party will decide who to back in the presidential race only after knowing the candidates and simultaneous damanded "maximum" central assistance for Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to media persons here after the party's parliamentary board meeting, Mulayam Singh said he wanted the Congress to first announce its candidate.

On the prospect of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, he pointed out that the Congress had not declared its candidate.

"I do not know who is the candidate. When a candidate is declared, we will decide," he said.

He added that no party had contacted him on next month's presidential elections.

"Closer to the (presidential) poll, our parliamentary board will decide," he said.

Mulayam Singh repeated his demand that the presidential nominee should be a "political" person and not a bureaucrat.

Asked if the SP will propose a name as it did in 2002, he said there was "difference in the situation" now.

The Election Commission Monday indicated that the notification for the presidential polls would be issued soon.

Mulayam Singh also sought to allay the impression that his party was closely aligned to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and said it supported the Congress-led coalition only to keep "communal forces at bay".

"We are no less than UPA. Samajwadi Party is a separate party," he said.

The party also signalled its intention to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls on its own in Uttar Pradesh and said it had started identifying the candidates.

Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said the party had received 900 applications for the Lok Sabha seats.

Mulayam Singh said Uttar Pradesh needed maximum support from the central government.

"The position of some states is bad. Uttar Pradesh should be given maximum assistance from the central government," he said.

He said his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had already written to the central government for a financial package for the state.

Asked about his talks with West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, who, too, is making financial demands on the central government, he said the details cannot be shared.

Taking on Guajrat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who had slammed leaders of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for casteist politics, Mulayam Singh said there was growing awareness among backwards about their rights.

"There (in Gujarat) politics of religion is taking place," he said.