SP announces tie-up with three other parties for LS polls in UP

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party on Tuesday announced an alliance with the Nishad Party, Janwadi Party (Socialist) and the Rashtriya Samanta Dal for the April-May Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh.

The SP has earlier tied up with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) to take on the BJP.

"Nishad Party, Janwadi Party (Socialist) and Rashtriya Samanta Dal will work for ensuring success of alliance candidates throughout the state," SP chief Akhilesh Yadav told a joint press conference with leaders of these parties here.

He, however, did not reveal the number of seats these parties would be allocated.

Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats. The BSP will contest 38 seats, SP 37 and the RLD three seats. The alliance will not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Yadav alleged that the BJP was using governor, government agencies and the media for its campaign.

Attacking the BJP, he said, "The main issue for BJP in these polls are only opposition and 'chowkidar' and campaigners of the BJP are governor, government agencies and media."

His statement was seen as an obvious reference to Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh's statement that Narendra Modi should become the prime minister once again.

On March 23, Singh, talking to reporters in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh had said, "We all are BJP workers and we want the BJP to emerge victorious. We want that Modi ji should become the prime minister. It is important for the country."

Replying to a question, Yadav said, "My team is working on issues that are to be taken up. We will come out with a manifesto soon. SP team is studying issues such as education, unemployment and schemes for poor. SP government set an example in launching welfare schemes."

On the Congress proposal to give Rs 72,000 annually to five crore poor families under a minimum income guarantee scheme, Yadav said, "It (SP manifesto promise) can be in lakhs (of rupees) also. Samajwadi Party believes in giving. House, pension and money for education are some of the issues that are to be taken up (in the manifesto). We will come up with a package for the poor."

Yadav said that with the help of the Nishad Party, the SP had "historic" results in Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls, held after the seats were vacated by Chief Minister Yogo Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

"Even...Chief Minister could not understand Gorakhpur results, where SP candidate won. At time when all eyes are there on Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha election results, our alliance will give tremendous performance. Except for a seat, they (BJP) cannot open account," Yadav claimed.

Asked about the seats the Nishad Party and others will be given, the SP chief told reporters, "Don't worry, you will get list."

On the occasion, Nishad Party president Sanjay Nishad said that at a time when the "Constitution is in danger, people will support the alliance and make a history in UP."

Asked about the allocation of seats, he said, "We leave everything on Akhileshji as to how he will utilise our support.