Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav announced on Thursday that his party’s alliance with Congress will continue, dispelling concerns that had emerged following recent political developments.
By-Elections in UP
The state of Uttar Pradesh is set to hold by-elections for ten assembly seats, and on Wednesday, the Samajwadi Party revealed its candidates for six of these seats. This move sparked speculation about the future of the alliance between SP and Congress, particularly since Congress had reportedly requested five seats for itself in the upcoming UP by-elections.
'Alliance with Congress remains intact'
Akhilesh Yadav addressed these concerns after paying tribute to his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, on his second death anniversary in Saifai, Etawah. When questioned by the media about the party's decision on ticket distribution for the by-elections, Yadav reassured that the alliance with Congress remains intact.
He stated, "I just want to say that the India alliance will be present in the by-elections. The alliance of Samajwadi Party and Congress will remain intact."
Despite his reassurances, Yadav chose not to delve further into the matter, suggesting that the occasion was not the right moment for a detailed discussion. He emphasized that the atmosphere of the day, which was focused on remembering his father, was not conducive to political conversations.
Alliance Under Scrutiny
The alliance between SP and Congress has been under scrutiny, especially after Congress faced a defeat in the Haryana elections. The decision by SP to announce its candidates for six out of ten seats raised further questions about the future of their partnership. Congress had reportedly demanded five of the ten seats in the by-elections, leading to doubts about whether both parties could reach a consensus. However, Akhilesh Yadav’s statement has temporarily put these concerns to rest, signaling a continuation of their political collaboration in the state.
We were not informed: Cong
On October 9, the Samajwadi Party announced candidates for six by-election seats including Karhal, Sisamau, Katheri, Phulpur, Milkipur and Majhwa.
Following the announcement, Congress state incharge Avinash Pandey said that they were not informed about this decision and that no discussions were held with the coordination committee of the INDIA bloc.
“It is true that no information was given to us about it. There has been no discussion with the coordination committee of the INDIA alliance yet. As far as the announcement of seats and contesting elections is concerned, whatever decision the coordination committee of INDIA alliance takes, it will be accepted by the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee," Avinash Pandey said.
(Prakash Kumar Pandey)