Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party on Tuesday announced an alliance with the Nishad Party, Janwadi Party (Socialist) and the Rashtriya Samanta Dal for the April-May Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh.
The SP has earlier tied up with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) to take on the BJP. “Nishad Party, Janwadi Party (Socialist) and Rashtriya Samanta Dal will work for ensuring success of alliance candidates throughout the state,” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav told a joint press conference with leaders of these parties here.
He, however, did not reveal the number of seats these parties would be allocated. Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats. The BSP will contest 38 seats, SP 37 and the RLD three seats.
The alliance will not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
Yadav alleged that the BJP was using governor, government agencies and the media for its campaign. Attacking the BJP, he said, “The main issue for BJP in these polls are only opposition and ‘chowkidar’ and campaigners of the BJP are governor, government agencies and media.”
His statement was seen as an obvious reference to Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh’s statement that Narendra Modi should become the prime minister once again. At time when all eyes are there on Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha election results, our alliance will give tremendous performance. Except for a seat, they (BJP) cannot open account,” Yadav claimed. (PTI)
