After a week of hectic political activity in New Delhi, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh returned to Lucknow on Saturday, with the party clearly indicating that its 39 Lok Sabha MPs will vote in support of the Congress-led UPA Government in the eventuality of a trust vote as demanded by the BJP.

“At this juncture, the vote of confidence will be a trial of strength between the secular and non-secular forces in the country. In the eventual fight between the secular and non-secular forces, the Samajwadi Party will support the secular forces,” SP general secretary Amar Singh announced in the Capital, adding, “We are not supporting Soniaji or Manmohan Singhji, but we are supporting a national cause.”

The SP has called a meeting of its MPs on July 8 to instruct them to vote for “secular forces” in a trial of strength.

Singh also added that the Left was a secular force, and expressed hope that the Left parties would not side with the BJP in the event of a trial of strength.

“I don’t think that the Left parties will ever go with the BJP and BSP in opposing secular forces. My understanding is that communalism is a bigger threat than imperialism,” Singh said at his residence soon after Mulayam left for Lucknow. “Advani is a bigger threat than Bush, whose term is almost ending... When it comes to choosing between Advani and Manmohan Singhji, my party will always back Manmohan Singhji,” said Singh.

In an apparent attempt to assuage the Left’s feelings, after the SP’s decision to shore up the UPA Government, the SP leader said the Congress should refrain from using harsh words against the Left parties which had supported it for four years.

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