This is what Akhilesh Yadav has to say about alliance with BSP for 2019 elections

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday apparently made it clear that his party may contest Lok Sabha elections, slated for next year, in alliance with the Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BJP). Yadav said that there will be a confluence of thoughts in Uttar Pradesh and very soon people will know about it. His statement holds significance as there are reports that both SP and BSP are working for an electoral tie-up in UP. Some even claimed that they are likely to make a big announcement on Mayawati’s birthday in January.

"In UP, there will be sangam (confluence) of people and sangam of thoughts, and very soon it will be in front of you," he said. When asked whether the Congress will be a part of this confluence, Yadav said, "I said that there will be sangam of people and thoughts. All answers are included in this."

Both the parties have extended support to the Congress to form a government in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress, which won 114 seats, secured the support of 121 MLAs, including SP (1) and BSP (2) legislators and four independents, to cross the majority mark of 116 seats in the 230-member Assembly. However, the SP has openly expressed his unhappiness for not making its lone MLA in Madhya Pradesh a minister. "Congress cleared the path for Uttar Pradesh," Akhilesh had said. The party, along with the BSP, is also maintaining a distance from Opposition meeting of late.  

Moreover, the SP - with the support of BSP - has already defeated the ruling BJP in fiercely fought Uttar Pradesh by-polls earlier this year. Both the seats — Gorakhpur and Phulpur — were won by the Samajwadi Party. Interestingly, they were earlier held by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya respectively. So, both the parties know that it is regional satraps who hold the key to victory in Uttar Pradesh.