Akhilesh Yadav set to lead Uttar Pradesh poll front on ‘cycle’; Samajwadi Party-Congress likely to enter alliance soon

Lucknow, Jan 17: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is set to lead Samajwadi Party in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state after the Election Commission recognised the faction led by him as the real party, entitled to use the ‘cycle’ symbol. After winning a battle against his father Mulayam Singh Yadav on ‘cycle’ symbol, Akhilesh Yadav now hopes to ride to power for the second consecutive tenure during the seven-phase Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav is now expected to forge a Bihar-style Grand Alliance with the Congress and RLD.
There have been talks on the alliance between the Congress and Samajwadi Party for high stakes the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The Congress has reportedly sought 100 seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly election starting next month. While the Samajwadi Party is not willing to give more than 60 seats to the Congress, there were reports that had suggested that the seat-sharing formula would be based on the seats Samajwadi Party and Congress had won and were runners-up in during the 2012 Assembly polls in the state.
It is expected that the Congress would not have any objection to the 2012-basis as the alliance formula as it was the party’s best performance after the 1996 elections. The SP had won 224 seats and was runner-up on another 77 seats in 2012. Another five were won in the by-polls. This totals 306 seats. The Congress had won 28 seats in the last polls and was runner-up in another 25 seats. Going by this, Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party is likely to contest about 300 seats, while the Congress could contest about 75, and the RLD and other parties could contest 25-30.
“Talks are going on to have a Bihar-style grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress and RLD combine may get at least 120-125 seats, while the rest of the seats will go to the Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party (SP),” a Congress source was quoted as saying by India Today. Shortly after the Election Commission gave its verdict in favour of Akhilesh Yadav, SP general secretary Ramgopal Yadav also said that he was “hopeful” the party will forge an alliance with Congress.
The Congress leadership is said to have been in regular touch with Akhilesh Yadav all through the tussle between the Chief Minister and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. After the poll watchdog’s crucial decision, Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance could become a reality soon