NEW DELHI, February 15: In a significant poll-eve appeal, former PM VP Singh today said secular parties including the Congress should be supported in constituencies where United Front constituents were not present to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party.``I appeal for full support to UF partners in all states. My first preference is for UF constituents like DMK-TMC in Tamil Nadu, TDP in Andhra Pradesh, Left Front in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura and Janata Dal in Karnataka and in the Hindi heartland.
``But in places where the Front was not present, like in western India, the people should vote for the secular party best capable of defeating BJP,'' he told a press conference here. In this way all secular forces could be helped, he said but parried questions on whom to support in constituencies like Madhepura and Jalandhar.
On the question of joining hands with Congress in case of a fractured verdict, Singh said it all depends on the Front constituents and the poll results.
He said the Congress, whichhad pulled down the Front government on the Jain Commission issue, too would have to take a decision on the line of its action in the post-poll scenario.
The former prime minister, who foresaw a clear mandate might elude the three main political forces this time, accused both Congress and BJP of destabilising the UF or National Front government in the past.
Apparently keeping in view the possible need for Congress and other non-BJP parties to come together in the post-poll scenario, Singh said there was need to keep open the option of dialogue between the parties.
``If a clear majority is not emerging you may need to talk to each other after 15 days. So don't use unparliamentary language and stop indulging in personal mudslinging,'' he said.
Singh, who could not campaign because of ill health, said a major section of the society was of the view that neither the Congress nor BJP can fulfil the aspirations of the people.
``They believe it is only the UF which can do so,'' he said and claimed it to bethe political rationale behind the Front's existence.
Singh said people had lost hopes of having a corruption-free government.
``There can't be any government that is not scam-tainted.'' The Front, which made a number of sacrifices for upholding secularism, put a halt to ``Congress hegemony'' and gave place of pride to regional political parties who thought they were away from the national mainstream, the former prime minister said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
