Ending speculations about a possible ‘Mahagathbandhan’, the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Wednesday announced that it will not form any pre-poll alliance for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP chief also declared party candidates for 325 constituencies.
With the announcement, Netaji put to rest on any rumours of a tie-up with the Congress or a grand alliance, like the one in Bihar.
He said that out of the 325 seats, 176 have been handed out to the sitting MLAs. On December 26, there were reports that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, allegedly unhappy with the candidates fielded by the party, had submitted his own list of candidates to Mulayam Singh. Addressing the press conference on Wednesday, Mulayam Singh said, “So many people, including Akhilesh, have given me their suggested names. I have adjusted as many as I could, however the final list is my choice.”
He also claimed that the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls will be held before February 28. “Jo UP jeet ta hai vo Dilli jeet ta hai, ye chunaav aapka hai aur 28 February se pehle hoga”, Mulayam said.
As per the list, senior SP leader Beni Prasad Verma’s son Rakesh will contest from Ramnagar in Barabanki while Shivpal Yadav will contest from Jaswant Nagar.
Notably, Akhilesh had earlier said a combine of SP and Congress can win over 300 seats in the 403-member House, but firmly ruled out any tie-up with BSP.
Yadav’s statement came just days after BSP supremo Mayawati claimed that BJP was exerting pressure on SP chief and his family through Enforcement Directorate, I-T department and CBI through disproportionate assets cases, and “other weaknesses” to join hands with Congress to divide Muslim votes and stop BSP from coming to power.
