Lucknow:
Days after holding a discussion with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) vice-president Jayant Chaudhary regarding alliance in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said that the alliance with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the RLD was ‘final’ and there would be no issues as regards seat-sharing.
"Our alliance with the BSP, the RLD and smaller parties like the Nishad Party is final and seat-sharing will not be a problem. It will be worked out soon. We have emerged as a strong force in the state, which has changed the tone and tenor of the BJP, whose leaders have started using foul language against us," the Samajwadi Party national president told PTI.
"Our alliance is final. In Kairana, we had fielded RLD leader Tabassum Hasan on an SP ticket. We will give Mathura and Baghpat to them, which they want. There is no problem in the alliance now," he said when asked about his recent meeting with Jayant Chowdhury.
"Uttar Pradesh has always acted as a catalyst for change. This time, the people of the state will change the prime minister. Our fight is with the BJP and the people are supporting us," Yadav said in an interview.
He also ruled out any understanding with the Congress, for which the alliance has left Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies – held by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
"How can we have an understanding with it (Congress)? It is a national party. We have given them two seats (Amethi and Raebareli), which the SP had been leaving for them. Presently, my focus is on Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand also, the SP will field one or two candidates who are strong and we will explore (the possibility of an) alliance with others," he said.
Yadav - who has already advised party supporters to respect BSP chief Mayawati as much as they respect him - however, didn’t respond to the question that who would be his choice as the next prime minister. He had earlier said that Uttar Pradesh has produced numerous prime ministers in the past and he would be happy if another prime minister comes from the state.
