At separate press conferences here today, Mulayam Singh stated that the UF would support the Congress if the latter was prepared to form a government at the Centre while Gowda maintained that the issue had not been discussed so far. Even in regard to the Telugu Desam extending support to the BJP government, Mulayam accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of betraying the front while the former prime minister said he would not use ``harsh words'' against Naidu.

Both Gowda and Mulayam are here to participate in the United Front rally ``in defence of secularism, democracy and social justice''.

Mulayam said the country had to be saved from the danger posed by a BJP government at the Centre. ``The nation will benefit if the Front supports the Congress,'' he said.

Going a step ahead,he said the Front would not have any objection even if Congress president Sonia Gandhi headed the government dismissing as a ``campaign by RSS'' the charge that she is a foreigner. Gowda, however, described Mulayam's statement as a ``personal opinion''. ``I am the Front chairman and no one approached me so far on this issue. In any case, the question of supporting the Congress arises only when the BJP government falls,'' he observed. In keeping with his party position, Mulayam attacked Chandrababu Naidu for ``betraying the UF and the nation'' by supporting the Vajpayee government. He however clarified that the UF rally was not aimed at attacking Naidu. ``The purpose behind holding the meeting is to reiterate that the Front is committed to secular values and would continue its fight against communal forces,'' he said.

Mulayam said Naidu's anti-Congressism was no justification for extending support to the BJP government. The TDP fought the Lok Sabha elections along with other UF partners on a secular plankbut changed its stand later, he said. Asked if the UF would allow the TDP to come back into its fold if it withdrew support to BJP, Mulayam shot back: ``Let him do that first.''

Gowda said the Front would not have found fault with Naidu had he maintained equidistance with both the Congress and the BJP. ``Having taken this stand initially, Naidu bargained with the BJP for the Lok Sabha speakership and extended support to the Vajpayee government,'' the former prime minister said. The UF chairman felt it was not proper for the TDP leader to justify his action on the ground that the UF adopted a pro-Congress posture.