Highlights: Mahagathbandhan takes a giant leap as Mayawati-Mulayam share stage after 24 years

Ending decades-long rivalry, Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday shared the dais at a hisotric election rally of SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Mainpuri on Friday. During the rally, both Mayawati and Mulayam showered praises at each other. Addressing the rally, Mulayam Singh asked his supporters to always respect Mayawati, saying that the BSP chief always helped the Samajwadi Party in need. The BSP chief also appealed people to vote for Mulayam. Calling the SP patriarch a real backward, Mayawati said that Mulayam united all the section of the society. Mayawati and Mulayam shared the stage nearly 24 years after the infamous "guest house episode" in 1995 when SP workers attacked the BSP cheif at a state guest house.

Earlier, Mulayam was not happy with the SP-BSP alliance and had skipped several joint rallies citing health conditions. However, to ensure the smooth tranfer of votes, Akhilesh Yadav convinced father Mulayam to share the stage with Mayawati wherever the gathbandhan has fielded joint candidates.

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