Mulayam says 'NO' to alliance with Congress in UP

Lucknow: Ending all the speculations of an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said that his party will retain power in UP by going alone in the upcoming assembly polls.

Some Congress leaders in the state were hopeful of a pre-poll alliance with SP and claim that, excepting one or two, agreement has been reached on most of the contentious issues.

It may be mentioned that Akhilesh also had, in the recent past, said that SP would win over 300 seats if his party enters into an alliance with Congress.

Political experts, however, believe that the Muslim vote bank in the state has slightly inclined towards Mayawati led BSP, especially after the Yadav family feud. It is believed that Congress, if enters into an alliance with SP, may lure 18 per cent Muslim voters in the state.

Speculations of an alliance between the two parties spoke volume after the Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor had meetings with Akhilesh and Mulayam.

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