New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) The Congress Party today described the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh as a "sinking ship," and asked Chief Minister Mulayam Singh to first protect his party rather than trying to revive a third front.

"The Samajwadi Party should try to protect its own sinking ship as many of their leaders and supporters are rapidly deserting it," AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons.

Without mentioning the new party "Jan Morcha," floated by expelled SP leader and actor Raj Babbar, he said, "the SP should first face the challenges of new fronts opening against it." On the report about Mr Haji Yacoob Quareshi, a minister in the Mulayam Singh cabinet, writing a letter to the Chief Minister criticising his style of functioning, Dr Singhvi said he had exposed various issues of misgovernance in UP government.

"On the other hand, we have the founders of SP opening new front against Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav," he said, obviously referring to Raj Babbar and his new party which also has the blessing of former Prime Minister V P Singh.

"Those who had contributed to the formation of the Samajwadi Party are now realising that there is a large scale dwindling of mass base from the party, he added." UNI SH MA HS1921