Akhilesh Yadav confirms alliance with Congress for UP elections

Putting an end to speculations and confirming unity within the opposition, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced on February 21 that his party will form an alliance with the Congress as part of the INDIA bloc for the upcoming general elections in UP. Yadav stated that there are no issues within the alliance. He expressed confidence in defeating the BJP in the upcoming polls and asserted that the Samajwadi Party will contest on a maximum number of seats.

"All is well that ends well, there is no dispute, there will be an alliance," Akhilesh Yadav said when asked about his absence from Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Amethi and Rae Bareli.

The announcement follows discussions between the Samajwadi Party and Congress, wherein the parties ironed out their differences over seat-sharing. Akhilesh Yadav clarified that his absence from Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Amethi and Rae Bareli did not indicate any dispute with the Congress.

The alliance, yet to be formally announced by the state units, is expected to see the Congress contesting on 17-19 seats in UP. The resolution of differences was attributed to intervention by Priyanka Gandhi and adjustments in seat allocations, with the Congress withdrawing its demand for the Moradabad seat and requesting seats in Varanasi, Sitapur, and Shravasti instead.