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Fernandes will not join BJP govt due to AIADMK

Samata Party chief George Fernandes has ruled out the possibility of his joining the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government if it had the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as a partner.

In an interview with a television channel, Fernandes said his party had taken a stand that there could be no compromise on corruption at any level. ''My principles have led me to a position where I am strongly opposed to this kind of understanding,'' he said.

The Samata Party only has a 'seat adjustment' with the BJP and it ''would be another kind of relationship when it came to forming the government or sitting in the Opposition''.

The party would not accept the BJP's position on Ayodhya, Article 370 or a common civil code.

He said the Samata Party had a clear position on all the three issues. While Ayodhya was a court matter, abrogating Article 370 necessitated a constitutional amendment requiring the support of a two-thirds majority in Parliament. There should be a discussion with the people concerned both on this issue and the common civil code.

Fernandes denied that he had talks with Janata Dal leader and Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan for a possible tie-up. However, Fernandes would be happy if his good friend Paswan joined the SP. ''We have discussed these things formally but we joke about these things,'' he added.

UNI

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