UP will play important role in next govt formation: Mulayam Singh Yadav

CHITRADURGA: Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today claimed Uttar Pradesh would play an "important" role in the formation of the next government at the Centre after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls due to the sheer number of the parliamentary seats in the state.

"Uttar Pradesh will play an important role in formation of the government at the Centre as the size of Lok Sabha seats in the state is huge. We have eighty seats compared to other states which boasts of just 10 to 12 seats. UP has always been deciding formation of the central government," Mulayam told reporters here when asked whether he would be a king or a kingmaker in the general election.

He was in town to participate in a public rally aimed at strengthening the party in this region, which has a considerable Yadav (Golla) population.

In an indirect reference to BJP leader L K Advani's prediction of his party "breaking records" in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he said "those who are jumping around in mirth hardly realise their states do not have as many seats as Uttar Pradesh."

Asked about Telangana issue, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his party was against division of any state.

On Karnataka Janata Paksha President B S Yeddyurappa's meeting with Mulayam Singh Yadav, he said "whenever Netaji visits Karnataka, many leaders meet him. They all know him for a very long time."

On the controversy over suspension of Noida Sub-Divisional Magistrate Durga Shakti Nagpal, Akhilesh Yadav said there should not be any debate over the suspension and he would look into the matter once he returns to his state.

A 2009-batch IAS officer posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar in September last year, Durga Shakti Nagpal, was penalised ostensibly for the demolition of a wall at a disputed place of worship. She had led a crackdown on unauthorised mining in the district and got over two dozen FIRs registered against those involved in illegally removing sand.