In a move aimed at defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party and Samajwadi Party have decided to join hands and contest the coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh..
Well placed sources in Samajwadi Party said that Sharad Pawar and Akhilesh Yadav had a long consultation over the issue in Delhi after which the two leaders decided to forge an alliance but the seat sharing was yet to be worked out. The sources said Pawar was also said to be in talks with other “like-minded” parties in a bid to put up a united front against the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
While addressing party workers in Lucknow last week, Akhilesh Yadav had said that the BJP was an “anti-people” party which was running the government with “hatred” and that the assembly polls next year would be the “last opportunity” to save democracy.
"To achieve the target of securing 350 seats in UP, we will have to work day and night," Akhilesh had said and exhorted party workers to beware of BJP’s tricks and propaganda.