Lucknow: Putting an end to speculation about a ‘maha-gathbandhan’ in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday ruled out forming alliance with any party and said “there may be only merger”.
“There will be no alliance for the UP Assembly polls. There may be only merger,” he told a hurriedly called press conference amid talks among leaders of ‘Janata Parivar’ parties about a possible tie-up. The ruling party chief’s remarks assume significance against the backdrop of marathon meetings Congress’ poll strategist Prashant Kishor had with him in Delhi and Lucknow.
Kishore had held talks with the SP patriarch spread over several sessions and had also met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, fuelling speculation about an alliance. Akhilesh, who did not appear too keen on cobbling together a coalition, had said that forming a coalition was not that easy.
The fact that SP wanted to go it alone was reflected in the chief minister’s remark that the ruling party can win the election on its own. But, as the alliance picture was not clear, he had also said that in case of pre-poll tie-up, they could garner 300 seats. Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 seats.
Akhilesh had, however, said the decision on cobbling together a coalition was not that easy. “Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) is an experienced leader. He will take the right decision…,” he had said, parrying a direct reply on whether a ‘maha-gathbandhan’ was on the anvil.
Mulayam’s announcement at the press conference was abrupt as he had held deliberations with leaders of Janata Parivar parties with his younger brother and his party’s UP unit chief Shivpal Yadav, a strong votary of the alliance, in tow. In a show of solidarity, Janata Parivar leaders including JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda had come together for the SP’s silver jubilee celebrations here on Nov 5 after Shivpal gave a call for unity among erstwhile Janata Parivar leaders.
Sources said that Mulayam decided to go solo as there was no unanimity on the number of seats to be shared. The CM had clearly said that before an alliance was struck, it was necessary to weigh who stood to gain and who were to lose. The SP, which was initially part of Bihar’s grand alliance, had walked out of it after it was offered only a handful of seats to contest the Assembly election there. The grand alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress had, however, scripted a glorious electoral victory, defeating the BJP-led NDA. (PTI)
