Formation of any political party or a front is the outcome of changing political circumstances. Both the National Front and the United Front have failed miserably. Most of the leaders used the front as a platform to buy political clout, throwing the nation to the brink of economic, administrative and political bankruptcy.

Being the followers of Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan, we cannot be mute spectators and let the communal forces take over.

Primarily, to pull down the BJP-led Government at the Centre and give Indian politics a new twist. The Centre's lopsided policies have endangered national security andisolated the country in the international arena. It is for the first time since Independence that farmers have been forced to commit suicide. The law and order situation has worsened. The BJP is appeasing its allies to prevent the collapse of its government. The economy is in a bad shape.

And, secondly, to prevent the erosion of our base in the countryside. Today, the mandate is with the Samajwadi Party in UP and the RJD in Bihar. So, we sat together for four hours and realised that the differences would only pave the way for the BJP to grab power in the Hindi region. Laloo Yadav has also been saying that history will not forgive us if we remain divided.

There can't be permanent enemies in politics. I have known Laloo Yadav for the past 22 years. We started our political careers under the same umbrella.

Despite differences in the political arena, no personal difference ever cropped up between us. In 1991, Laloo joined the Janata Daland I formed the Samajwadi Party with Chandra Shekhar. Since then we have been championing the same cause. When the United Front was formed, Laloo Yadav made a hue and cry about my candidature for the post of prime minister. But it was a political protest. Then came the fodder scam in which Laloo Yadav was framed by his political opponents. I feel that whatever action has been taken against him has been one-sided and Laloo has not been given an opportunity to clarify his position.

After the formation of the new front, there are no differences political or personal. Laloo admitted that his differences with the SP had weakened the forces of social justice and secularism.

Laloo Yadav was made a scapegoat to settle political scores. A conspiracy was hatched to demoralise him and crush the Dalit movement. After all, the CBI is also a part of the ruling party.

Everything is fine in love and war. When I used to go the akhara (wrestling ring), I never thought I would be defeated. When people clap, the wrestler's morale gets a boost. Now we have launched a war and hope the people of this country will think about the gravity of the situation.

We joined the United Front to fight the communal forces. But, ironically, some of the constituents had no qualms about compromising with the communal forces. In the new front, there is no place for such elements.

There is no question of control or remote control. We will sit together to chalk out the plan of action.

The front does not mean a merger of the SP and the RJD. Both the parties are free to mobilise forces and make their base stronger. There is no political clash between the RJD and the SPin Bihar.

We don't want communal forces to remain in power. I can't predict mid-term elections. Let's see what happens.

Strength will not be calculated on the basis of the elected members in Parliament. We will mobilise forces and appeal to all secular minded people and political leaders to join us. Being the largest opposition party in Parliament having 142 members in the House, whenever the Congress decides to form an alternative government, we are there to support.

That's not my problem. Being the Congress president, she will have to give a strong thought to the issue. If the Congress doesn't wish to formthe government, it will have to extend support to us to form the government. The first choice will, of course, be that of the Congress.

There is no place for those who have any relation with the BJP. I have nothing to do with the BSP. The BSP has made its base on caste lines. If the Samata Party decides to join the front, it will have to desert the BJP.

No temple will be constructed at Ayodhya. We have decided to launch an agitation against the construction of the temple.