Thursday, 25 November 2021 | Biswajeet Banerjee | Lucknow
Akhilesh meets AAP leader Sanjay Singh and Apna Dal leader Krishna Patel
Shedding its Covid-period inertia, the Samajwadi Party is racing ahead with its plan to stitch up alliances with smaller parties to take on the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
In an attempt to strengthen the caste alliance further, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav met senior Aam Adami Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh and Apna Dal (Krishna Group) president Krishna Patel separately on Wednesday, fuelling speculation of further alliances.
Krishna Patel later declared that her party will share stage with the Samajwadi Party in near future but did not elaborate on the seat arrangement.
The meeting between Akhilesh and Singh took place at Janeshwar Mishra Trust building in Lucknow and lasted for about an hour. This was the third meeting of the AAP leader and Akhilesh.
“In an attempt to give respite to the people of UP from the BJP, we are trying to come together and talks regarding a possible alliance have been initiated,” Singh said.
Recently Singh had visited the residence of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and greeted him on his birthday.
Political pundits believe that if the SP and the AAP forge an alliance, it will boost their chances in the urban areas where the BJP has stronghold.
Earlier in the day, Patel met Akhilesh. She claimed that her deal with the SP is final now and very soon leaders of both parties would share a common platform.
Another faction of Apna Dal led by Union Minister Anupriya Patel has an alliance with the ruling BJP.
Akhilesh has already forged alliance with Suheldeo Rajbhar Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) which has a strong base among Rajbhar community in east UP. Besides, the SP also has tied up with Mahan Dal, which has influence among the Maurya-Kachi and Kushwaha community in east and central UP. Last month, the SP had entered into an alliance with the Jan Kranti Party dominated by Lonia community.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Choudhury had met with Akhilesh regarding alliance for the coming UP Assembly elections.
