Chennai, April 22
Continuing his party's efforts to drum up support for formation of a Third Front at the national level, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today charged the UPA government with not cooperating with his government.

“Yes, there should be a third force. We, Samajwadi Party believe that there should be a third force at the national level”, he told reporters on his maiden visit to the city after taking over as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

His visit is apparently aimed at seeking support for formation of the front from regional political outfits like the PMK and the AIADMK.

“They — Congress and the BJP — have not fulfilled their promises. Their policies are not pro-poor. The Congress and the BJP and their allies have failed on many fronts. Opportunity is there for a third force. There should be a third force”, he said.

To a query on whether his party would pull out of the UPA government, Akhilesh remarked, “They are good and they are bad (in relations between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress). We are with the government. We are co-operating with the government. But the government is not cooperating with us. My father will take a decision (on pulling out from UPA)”.

The 22-member Samajwadi Party extends outside support to the Congress-led UPA government.

During his brief visit to the city, Akhilesh inaugurated PMK’s “Vanniar Youth Cultural Festival”. He later called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat.

Emerging after nearly 30-minute meeting with Jayalalithaa, he refused to answer queries from media persons.

The young Chief Minister from Uttar Pradesh sought to woo the youth to extend support to his party to lead the nation. “Without your support, we might not be able to get that strength (of leading a nation)”, he said.

He condemned the rape of a five-year-old girl in Delhi, saying “safety of women should be the priority. Whichever government is there, there has to be strong action against those committing crimes against women. It should be the priority of the government.”

On law and order situation in his home state, Akhilesh said “We have been very strict. (My) Government has taken strong steps. I assure you that on the issue of law and order, we are not making any compromise”.

Referring to industrial bodies CII and FICCI holding press conferences addressed by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “FICCI and CII have chosen their prime ministerial candidates. But it is for backward sections to decide the candidate (to lead a nation)”. — PTI