Mulayam says he is not in race for prime ministership

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday reiterated that he is not in the race for prime ministership, but sidestepped questions whether he will support a Congress-led coalition headed by Sonia Gandhi.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet in New Delhi, he said: "We will not take any stand on other issues till the results are out. We must first see whether it is a baby boy or girl."

Congress leader S Jaipal Reddy was also present at Mulayam's meeting with Surjeet.

Mulayam said a stable and secular government is his priority. He, however, parried questions whether the leadership issue was a stumbling block in the formation of a non-National Democratic Alliance, secular government.