Mulayam: Samajwadi Party opposed to division of States

“We are opposed to creation of smaller States by dividing bigger States. Such administrative units are prone to problems due to lack of resources. Naxalism is one major problem which is prevailing in smaller States,” he told reporters in New Delhi.

This is perhaps his first reaction on the Telengana issue after the Cabinet approved the creation of the new State on October 3. Mr. Mulayam’s remarks come after Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader and Union Minister Ajit Singh demanded creation of Harit Pradesh to be carved out of parts of Western Uttar Pradesh.

Mr. Ajit is learnt to have pitched for Harit Pradesh during a recent Cabinet meeting which approved the creation of Telangana to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh. While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and RLD support dividing U.P. into smaller States, Samajwadi Party is opposed to any such move.

In November, 2011, the then Mayawati government had adopted a resolution in the U.P. Assembly supporting division of the State into Bundelkhand, Pashchim Pradesh, Purvanchal and Paschim Pradesh. Asked whether he will talk to TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is sitting on a fast here to “expose” Congress, Mr. Mulayam said he will speak on the issue later.

Mr. Mulayam also skirted a reply on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad’s conviction in the fodder scam, saying he will speak on the issue at a later date. His party had opposed the decision to withdraw the ordinance to negate a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a provision in the electoral law that protects a convicted MP or MLA from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.

Replying to a volley of questions on communal violence in Muzaffarnagar, Mr. Mulayam said much has been said and written on the issue. “Whatever has happened there is unfortunate. But it has now happened. The issue should not be raised again and again,” he said.

Referring to allegations by BJP that only its MPs and MLAs are being arrested for allegedly fuelling violence, the SP leader said there will be no partiality in dealing with the guilty. “Whosoever is guilty will be punished,” he said.

Responding to a poser on attacks by Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma on the SP leadership, he said he would not respond to “insignificant” people. “You will see what happens to him in elections,” he said. Mr. Verma is one of the founding members of SP but he fell apart with Mr. Mulayam.

Meanwhile, former BJP leader Baba Gowda Patil from Karnataka on Monday joined the Samajwadi Party and was made the State unit chief. Mr. Patil was a Union Minister in the NDA government. Mr. Mulayam said the SP will contest the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and will emerge as an important factor after the polls. “In fact, we are contesting all the seats in Madhya Pradesh. In West Bengal, we will emerge as a powerful force,” Mr. Mulayam said.