With opposition failing to present a united face, the Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav announced that party will contest Gorakhpur bye-election in alliance with Peace Party and Nishad Party but will go alone in the Phulpur bye-elections.
Akhilesh made this announcement in a press conference on Sunday in presences of president of both Nishad Party and Peace Party.
Yadav declared that Praveen Kumar Nishad, son of Nishad Party chief Dr Sanjay Kumar Nishad, would contest the election from Gorakhpur on SP symbol of bicycle.
On the other hand Nagendra Pratap Singh Patelwas declared as official party candidate from Phulpur lok Sabha seat.
In an indirect attack on Congress Yadav said that the onus was on other opposition parties to go for a joint opposition candidate so that we can take head-on with the BJP. “This did not materialize as Congress has already announced candidate from Gorakhpur,” he said.
Congress has already announced Dr Surhita Chatterjee Karim as their candidate for the Gorakhpur lok Sabha by poll.
However the SP president did not reveal the name of Phulpur lok Sabha seat. It also did not say that whether he will support the Congress candidate or not. Congress has announced Manish Mishra as their candidate from Phulpur seat.
SP president said that it was a good approach by Nishad Party and Peace Party to join hands with the SP. “ It is not just a political contest in Gorakhpur and Phulpur but it is a social fight against the people who are dividing the society and unleashing a reign of terror,” he said with claiming that BJP would lick the dust in the by polls.
Nishad Party president Dr. Sanjay Kumar Nishad said: “We have fought a long battle for the poor and downtrodden but to strengthen the opposition unity we have come under the banner of SP and under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav.”
Peace Party president Dr Ayub too said that an opposition unity is required to fight against the communal forces who are dividing the society on the name of caste and religion.
The by polls for the Gorakhpur and Phulpur lok Sabha seats— vacated by chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya respectively will be held on March 11 . The last date for filing of nominations is February 20.
BJP is yet to announce its candidates for both the by-elections.