Samajwadi Party chief Mualayam Singh Yadav is our newsmaker of the day for uttering those two words that petrifies the Congress like nothing else. Yes, Third Front are the two wards the Congress wishes didn't exist.

In a loud warning to the UPA, Mulayam Singh Yadav has said that if the government does not rollback its decision on FDI in retail, he will announce a political alternative. Mulayam said his party will not "tolerate" anti-people decisions like hike in diesel.

This statement from Mulayam came on the back of the CPM's Prakash Karat appeal to Mulayam to lead a Third-Front-like formation.

Mulayam courts arrest

Courting arrest along with leaders from Left and other parties, Yadav demanded that the government withdraw immediately "anti-people" decisions like hike in diesel price, FDI in retail sector and cap on LPG cylinders. Samajwadi party with 22 MPs in the Lok Sabha is an outside supporter of UPA.

Mulayam shoots from the lip

"If the government does not roll back its decisions, then we will have work to announce an alternative."

"I have said this several times that we are supporting the Government only to stop communal forces (from coming to power). But we will not tolerate price rise."

"The government has been coming out with policies after policies that affect people of this country. The biggest loser of these policies especially diesel price hike is farmers. Farmers have been put to lot of trouble."

Political reactions

It is true that the people need a political alternative based on policies, an attempt is on in this direction. We want non-Congress and non-BJP political parties to come together based on policies to give a political alternative: Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) leader

We have enough friends yesterday, we have enough friends today so I don't see any reason you should doubt our stability: P Chidambaram

Mulayam is the leader of the largest group so he should lead us: Prakash Karat, CPM general secretary

our efforts are to provide the nation with another political alternative. A govt that is non-Cong, non-NDA will benefit the country and the people, and this is what is in the interest of the country: Sitaram Yechury

Mixed response to Bharat Bandh

The NDA and Left Bharat Bandh call against diesel price hike and FDI in retail fuelled protests across the country; Delhi, bangalore and kolkatta hit but some cities like Mumbai remained unaffected.

The day began with Samajwadi Party, BJP and JDU party workers halting trains in Allahabad, Varanasi and Patna. Trains were blocked in Bhubaneswar as well. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad was detained in Patna. His colleague Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi led protesters by burning effigies in Kanpur. There were protests in over 15 major cities across 10 states. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal and Odisha are most affected.

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