External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that the 'Fourth Front' comprising SP, LJP and RJD would split secular votes.
Not ruling out taking its support again to form the government at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections, External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee has said that the 'Fourth Front' comprising SP, LJP and RJD would split secular votes.
They would play spoilers for the main contestants where they are not serious contenders, he said.
"They will clearly waste votes. That is their main objective," the Congress leader said. When asked to comment on reports that in the post-poll situation, the Congress might take their support, he said, "I do not know. It will depend on numbers. After all democracy is a game of numbers. What I can say is, we will get adequate number of seats. I can't predict. We are fighting to win the elections."
"Congress is contesting in enough constituencies to get adequate number of seats along with all the partners with whom we have seat sharing-arrangements like the Trinamool Congress in Bengal, NCP in Maharashtra, DMK in Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha led by Shibu Soren.
"Therefore, it will not be very difficult for the Congress to muster majority to form the government," he said.
When asked whether he foresaw a situation where the Left would play a supporting role in government formation, Mukherjee said, "I have answered your earlier question and I am repeating it.
"We are confident of getting adequate number of seats to form the government; We and our partners with whom we have made (seat) adjustment. Beyond this it is difficult for me to say."
Mukherjee was critical of Left parties for their allegation that prime minister Manmohan Singh had made the nuclear deal his personal agenda and pressurised his party and
allies on the issue. "Not at all," he said.
"Energy security is the agenda of the nation. Civil nuclear co-operation is important. We cannot ensure energy security depending simply on hydel power and thermal power
where ash content in our coal is high," he said.
He said that it was also important from the point of coming out of the technological isolation. For 35 years since 1974, India was subjected to technological isolation.
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