Third front always a post-poll possibility: Mulayam Singh

Observing that a third front was always a post-poll possibility, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Sunday said neither the Congress nor the BJP, but those forming the alternative front will get a majority in the next general elections.

"Third front is always formed after the polls and never before the polls. The fact is, in the coming elections, neither the Congress nor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will get majority," he said during a visit to the city.

"It is a certainty that those forming the Third Front will get the majority in the polls".

With Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee floating the idea of a federal front and calling upon regional parties to unite, Mulayam Singh said he was yet to talk with the West Bengal chief minister on the issue.

"Our relations with Mamataji have always been cordial. However, we have not had any political discussions so far," he said.

Despite Mulayam Singh doing a volte-face after assuring Banerjee of opposing the presidential candidature of Pranab Mukherjee last year, the Trinamool has expressed its willingness to talk with the SP for the formation of the federal front.

Meanwhile, in an indication that the SP was keeping its options open, its leader Sanjay Dalmiya held a meeting with Communist Party of India-Marxist leaders at the party's state headquarters here during the day.