Akhilesh Yadav set to attend Lalu Prasad's rally at Patna with Mayawati, hints at alliance

Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) Akhilesh Yadav has said that he would attend Lalu Prasad's proposed rally on August 27 in Patna. He further added that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati would also be present there.

Speculations have been rife that arch rivals SP and BSP may form an alliance due to the BJP’s meteoric rise in Uttar Pradesh.

"I will be present at Lalu Prasadji's Bihar rally on 27 August and Mayawati will also be there. If there is any announcement (regarding future alliance) it will be made there," Akhilesh said when asked about the speculations that SP and BSP will come together.

However, the BSP has still not confirmed Mayawati’ presence in the rally.

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RJD chief Lalu Yadav has invited various top opposition leaders to his party’s rally. If an alliance between both the rival parties does come to fruition, it will assume significance as the UP civic bodies elections are scheduled for June and would be followed by the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha by-polls.

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On the question of Congress, Akhilesh said his party's alliance was unbreakable and that they, along with other like-minded parties, would closely work to expose the BJP. "Rahul Gandhi is with me and will always be with me," he said.