Just a few hours after the Haryana Assembly election results came out, Samajwadi Party (SP) announced the names of its 6 candidates for the by-elections in Uttar Pradesh. After the announcement of the names of the candidates without discussion, questions started being raised about the INDIA alliance. However, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav made it clear on Thursday that the alliance with his party and opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) ally Congress will remain intact.
Akhilesh Yadav reached his native town Saifai yesterday on Wednesday, a day before the second death anniversary of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, the founder of Samajwadi Party. Former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh died two years ago on October 10, 2022. After paying tribute to his father Mulayam Singh on his second death anniversary in Saifai of Etawah district, Akhilesh said on the question related to the alliance, “Today is not the time to discuss it. However, as far as INDIA alliance is concerned, I would like to say that the alliance of SP and Congress will remain.”
By-elections are to be held on 10 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh in the next few days. This statement of former CM Akhilesh can be considered important amid the apprehensions being raised about the continuation of the alliance of SP and Congress after SP declared candidates for 6 out of 10 seats on Wednesday regarding the by-elections.
Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party had on Wednesday declared its candidates for 6 out of 10 by-election seats (Majhwan, Karhal, Katehari, Phulpur, Milkipur and Sisamau), a day after Congress's crushing defeat in the Haryana Assembly elections. SP also fielded its candidates on 2 out of 6 seats (Phulpur and Majhwan) from where Congress was staking claim. In such a situation, various kinds of speculations had started regarding the alliance between SP and Congress.
In the Lok Sabha elections held in April-May, SP and Congress had fought under the INDIA alliance. The performance of the alliance was better in the elections. SP had won 37 seats and Congress 6 seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, on the question related to Congress's defeat in Haryana elections, Akhilesh Yadav said, “It is not right to discuss Haryana elections right now. There will be discussion when we meet.”
10 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh are Ghaziabad, Phulpur (Prayagraj), Karhal (Mainpuri), Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Milkipur (Ayodhya), Mirapur (Muzaffarnagar), Majhwan (Mirzapur), Khair (Aligarh), Sisamau (Kanpur Nagar), And by-elections are to be held on Kundarki (Moradabad). However, the schedule of by-elections has not been announced yet.
