Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati to hold 11 joint rallies in Uttar Pradesh

Almost two months after announcing a pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh for ensuing Lok Sabha Elections, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati have finalised their programme to kick-start their joint rallies. According to reports, the joint rally is being organised to spread a message of bonhomie between worker of once-arch rivals SP and BSP.  

Some reports suggest that both the parties were initially thinking about joint roadshow but it was dropped as the BSP chief is not fond of roadshows. Both the leaders will hold a total of 11 joint rallies in the state.

SP chief spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said the programme of the rallies has been finalised. "Between April 7 to May 16, both leaders will address 11 joint rallies and RLD chief Ajit Singh will also be sharing the stage with them," he said.

Mayawati is likely to share the stage with Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav as she is scheduled to campaign for him in his home turf Mainpuri where SP founder is contesting polls, starting April 7 till May 16.

The first joint rally of SP-BSP-RLD will be held in Deoband (Saharanpur) on April 7, followed by rallies in Badaun, Agra, Mainpuri, Rampur, Firozabad, Kannauj, Faizabad, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur and Varanasi.

In Mainpuri, the SP has fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav, while Akhilesh Yadav's wife, Dimple Yadav, is contesting from Kannauj.

The SP president had on Wednesday met Mayawati and discussed kickstarting campaigning with a joint rally during the Navratras, which begin on April 6. Directives have been issued to party workers for coordinating with alliance partners and using joint banners and flags for publicity, Chowdhury said.