- All eyes are now on an SP-Congress alliance which may be announced on Wednesday
- On Tuesday, Mulayam submitted list of 38 candidates to Akhilesh, excluded brother Shivpal’s name
- The EC had acknowledged UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as the Samajwadi Party chief on Monday
- It ruled that the ‘cycle’ symbol belongs to the Akhilesh-led faction
Congress Announced Uttar Pradesh Alliance
Congress leader and AICC Uttar Pradesh in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday said that an alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the upcoming assembly elections was confirmed and seat-sharing talks between the two parties were underway.
Azad, however, refused to comment on whether a ‘mahagatbandhan’ alliance between like-minded parties would take place.
Details about it will be decided in coming days, for now can say there will be Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance under leadership of Akhilesh Yadav.Ghulam Nabi Azad
NCP Ready to Join UP's Grand Alliance''
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Tuesday said it is ready to join the grand secular alliance in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh with Samajwadi Party as the pivot.
"I got a call from Akhilesh Yadav in the afternoon when I was in Goa. We spoke about NCP allying with SP in Uttar Pradesh," NCP leader Praful Patel told reporters in Goa.
Patel is in Goa to check preparedness of his party to contest the Goa Assembly elections slated for 4 February.
I told him (Akhilesh) that we are happy to have an alliance with SP. He can formally announce that they are aligning with NCP. NCP will go for an alliance with SP in UP.Praful Patel
Akhilesh Called His Ties With Father Mulayam "Unbreakable"
Amidst talks of an alliance between the Samajwadi Party and Congress, Akhilesh Yadav’s social media campaign paid a tribute to his father Mulayam Singh.
The advertisements ranged from “Saath rahein" (stay together) to “Aagey badein" (let's move forward).
Akhilesh also called on his father at the latter's residence for the second time in two days and described his ties with him as “unbreakable”.
"Not Responsible for SP Rift"
Senior SP leader Amar Singh, who is currently in London, said that he isn’t on anyone’s side (referring to Akhilesh and Mulayam factions).
Even before the EC announced its order (on party symbol), I had said I am not on any side. Also, I have been expelled and I accept it.Amar Singh
“Mulayam ji doesn’t consider me to be a villain,” said Singh, who has often been blamed for the internal tussle.
Responding to the allegations that he was trying to split the SP on the behest of the BJP, he said:
The day I want to join the BJP, I will announce it openly and go.