In an interview with NDTV, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav disclosed that his party will be forming an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to fight against the BJP.
Saying how it was the practical thing to do, Yadav stressed on the importance of the alliance and how he was willing to take two-steps back for the sake of it.
It is obvious that we have to come together. Based on our conversation, both our parties will together fight elections in 2019. This alliance is important. If I have to take two steps back, I am willing to do it.Akhilesh Yadav speaking to NDTV
He also said that Mayawati-led BSP’s support was crucial in ensuring success to SP’s stunning victory in the Lok Sabha bypolls from Gorakhpur and Phulpur, which they fought together. Because of the alliance’s success, Yadav mentioned that he was open to the idea of a “broader national alliance”, an idea raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee amongst others.
He brought up the alliance SP had with Congress for state elections in 2017, in which his party had given the Congress 100 seats, and contested on 300 seats, as a gesture of goodwill for the alliance, despite many party members advising him not to give away such a high number of seats. However, Yadav stressed, that even though they did not win, their relationship with the Congress did not go south.
Going the Extra Mile
Yadav said he initiated the idea of an alliance with BSP for the elections in UP: “Our party leaders discussed the issue with their BSP counterparts, and then we approached party workers at the grassroots to find out if they were ready. Then, after the Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypolls, [my father] appreciated the fact that I had reached out to the BSP and was very happy about it. I have his blessings for this association (with the BSP).” He also thanked Mayawati for accepting his party in alliance after power shifted from his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, to him.
While the BSP-SP alliance did win SP’s two candidates the crucial seats of Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the alliance failed to secure BSP candidate Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s win in the Rajya Sabha polls. The pre-poll deal was that the SP, with the extra votes it would have after one of its candidates won, would use those votes to support a BSP candidate.
Hence, he constantly stressed on his commitment to go the ‘extra mile’ for the alliance in the 2019 polls. Yadav said he was ready to accommodate BSP on issues like seat sharing, but did not mention if his party would field a candidate or the BSP would. “It will be a decision that will be liked by everyone,” he said to the TV channel.
Yadav also said that BJP’s strong anti-Dalit stand is what has strengthened the alliance between the two parties, echoing Mayawati’s thoughts that the two parties, along with others if they are so keen, will not allow BJP to be at the Centre for another term.
This alliance between the SP and the BSP is set to fight for 13 seats in the Uttar Pradesh legislative council elections on 26 April.
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