For the past few days, there were growing speculations of a SP-BJP tie-up, which were fuelled by some remarks made by SP general secretary Amar Singh.

“Those who know the character of the Samajwadi Party will never even make such speculations,” Yadav told mediapersons.

“Those who know me and my party also know about the sacrifices made by me and my family in fighting the BJP and the communal forces and there is not even iota of truth in the talk of SP having any truck with the BJP,” he added.

Regarding the question raised by the Congress over his ties with Kalyan Singh, former chief minister said he was not answerable to any party about his relationship with Singh.

He once again defended the decision to side with the former BJP leader, which has led to considerable dissent within his party

Yadav reiterated that the Kalyan Singh had chosen to remain independent and had not joined the Samajwadi Party. “After Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Kalyan Singh was the only mass leader in the BJP and no other leader in that party enjoys the kind of support he does,” he said.

Yadav also ruled out the possibility of Amar Singh contesting the next Lok Sabha elections after SP legislator Mohd Azam Khan — a senior Muslim leader who has come out in the open against the party — had claimed that the general secretary could never win an election of a village pradhan.

“Amar Singh had expressed his desire to contest, but the party does not want him to fight as he cannot be confined to one constituency. He is needed to campaign for the party. There are two constituencies from where Amar Singh can win the elections with a margin of over one lakh votes without campaigning, but he will not contest this time,” Yadav said in his defence.

To Khan, who is unhappy over Yadav’s friendship with Kalyan Singh, and Amar Singh’s influence in the part, he had a message.

“Azam Khan is a senior leader and I appeal him to air his grievances in the party forum instead of speaking to the media. I know he will never do anything to damage the Samajwadi Party,” Yadav said.

“He should not be compared to other party rebels like Beni Prasad Varma and Raj Babbar,” he added.

‘Maya following unhealthy democratic traditions’
Criticising Chief Minister Mayawati for abruptly cutting short the budget session of UP Assembly, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said the practice was against the norms of a healthy democracy.

Speaking to mediapersons on Friday, Yadav, said: “She has neither the time to attend the Assembly Session, nor the time to meet the Leader of Opposition. She clearly does not believe in honouring the democratic and parliamentary traditions.”