Rise of third front will be good news, says Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister designate Akhilesh Yadav on Monday termed the probable rise of a third front in Parliament to be a healthy development.

Akhilesh, who arrived in New Delhi with his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to attend the budget session of Parliament, said: "If there is a need for a third front in the country, then it is a good start. The priority of the Samajwadi Party will be to take Uttar Pradesh on the path of progress."

"Since the people would put their faith in us and have given us such a huge majority, then it is our duty to issue manifesto and take Uttar Pradesh on the path of happiness. This will be our priority," he added.

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When asked to comment on the possibility of a mid-term poll being held in the country, Yadav said that his Samajwadi Party is ready if such a situation arises.

"When there will be elections, we shall fight it on the strength of our workers. The results are in the hands of the people," he said.

Promising to improve the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh said, "All these officials belong to the earlier government. I believe that in Uttar Pradesh the good officials will be given a chance. All these things would be in control. Anybody who breaks the law would be punished. To keep up the law and order, the Samajwadi Party will do whatever is necessary for the moment."

Akhilesh was, on Saturday, named the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh by his party's lawmakers after SP routed all its rivals in the recently concluded state assembly elections clinching 224 of 403 seats in the state assembly.

He will become the youngest chief minister of Uttar Pradesh after taking oath of office on March 15.