Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Shivpal Yadav rules out alliance with Congress in Uttar Pradesh

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) chief Shivpal Yadav on Friday rejected possibility of an alliance with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. 

According to reports, talks were underway between the PSP and the Congress for an alliance in Uttar Pradesh to take on the BJP and the SP-BSP bonhomie.  

The development comes as yet another setback for the Congress, which was elbowed out of the SP-BSP alliance, announced earlier this year. However, Akhilesh Yadav had said that the Congress was a part of the alliance as his party and BSP did not field any canidate on the Lok Sabha seats of Amethi and Raebareli. 

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It is believed that Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle was repotedly upset with the Congress over the delay in finalising the seat sharing formula for Uttar Pradesh and also over the latter announcing the list of candidates in the state. 

Recently, Shivpal had met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and it was reported that the former's PSP may get 10-12 seats in the state to contest on. However, the The Apna Dal, led by Krishna Patel, had also claimed of being in touch with the Congress top leadership for alliance.  

The Congress has already announced an alliance with the little-known Mahan Dal. Peace Party leader Mohammad Ayub has met Congress general secretary (east UP) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Days after his feud with nephew and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav became public in 2017, Shivpal Yadav, who is still a SP MLA from Jaswantnagar seat, formed a breakaway faction 'Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM)' and latter a separate political outfit ‘Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party’. 

The rebel SP leader and chief of PSP(L) chief Shivpal Yadav has announced that he will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Firozabad constituency. The current MP from Firozabad is Akshay Yadav, who is the son of Shivpal’s estranged brother – the SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav.