'Don't create confusion': Mayawati tells Congress on its 7-seat offer, Akhilesh backs her

A day after the Congress announced it will leave seven seats for the SP, BSP and RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh, BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday said that the former was free to contest on all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, Mayawati said: “Congress party is absolutely free to contest on all 80 seats independently in UP. Our alliance formed here (with SP) is strong enough to defeat BJP. Congress must not spread wrong impression by leaving seven seats vacant in UP for SP, BSP and RLD.”

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Soon after, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav backed her remarks, saying that the SP-BSp-RLD alliance is capable of defeating the Congress. "SP-BSP- RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh is capable of defeating BJP. Congress should not create any confusion," he tweeted.

To woo allies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the Congress on Sunday announced that it will leave more than a dozen Lok Sabha seats for other parties, including seven seats for the SP, BSP and RLD alliance in the state.

Apart from this, the grand old party of India also announced that it will leave two seats for the Apna Dal, and entered into an electoral agreement with the lesser known Jan Adhikar Party.

"The Congress is leaving seven Lok Sabha seats in the state for the SP, BSP and RLD alliance. These include Mainpuri, Kannauj and Firozabad. Apart from this, the party will not field any candidate on seats from where BSP chief Mayawati, RLD chief Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary are likely to contest or may contest," said Raj Babbar.

“"The alliance has left the seats of Rae Bareli (held by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi) and Amethi (held by Congress president Rahul Gandhi). In a reciprocating gesture, we are leaving seven Lok Sabha seats for them," he added.

In January this year, the BSP and SP had announced their alliance for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, while elbowing out the Congress. Later, the Grand Old Party forged alliances with smaller parties like Mahan Dal and Jan Adhikar Party.