LUCKNOW: Desperate to wrest power from the BJP in 2022 elections after a poor outing in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday held a meeting with his uncle, the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) chief Shivpal Singh Yadav, to announce the SP – PSP alliance for the upcoming UP elections.
After the meeting of the two leaders, Akhilesh Yadav took to twitter and wrote, “Met PSP chief and decided on the alliance. The policy of taking regional parties along is continuously strengthening the SP and leading the party and its allies towards a historic victory.”
प्रसपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष जी से मुलाक़ात हुई और गठबंधन की बात तय हुई।
क्षेत्रीय दलों को साथ लेने की नीति सपा को निरंतर मजबूत कर रही है और सपा और अन्य सहयोगियों को ऐतिहासिक जीत की ओर ले जा रही है। #बाइस_में_बाइसिकल pic.twitter.com/x3k5wWX09A
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 16, 2021
Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav drove to Shivpal Singh Yadav’s residence for the talks. The meeting lasted for over an hour.
However, there was no announcement on the seat sharing. The Samajwadi Party had earlier announced alliance with the Jayanat Chaudhary led Rashtriya Lok Dal, Krishna Patel-led Apna Dal and OP Rajbhar led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party.
The meeting between the two leaders comes ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state, where the Samajwadi Party is facing stiff competition from the ruling BJP.
Shivpal Singh Yadav had left Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2017 assembly elections after rift over the ticket sharing. The party suffered a major jolt in the 2017 assembly elections as it was voted out of power despite stitching an alliance with the Congress.
Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav fought the case for having control of the party in the court and the Election Commission.