Akhilesh: SP to forge alliance only with smaller parties for 2022 assembly polls

Samajwadi Party chief and former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said that his party would go for alliance only with smaller parties, including his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav-led political outfit, for the 2022 assembly polls. Yadav said his party won’t forge any alliance with bigger parties like the BSP or Congress any more.

He also demanded that the members of Shree Ramjanmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust step down pending enquiry.
“The SP will not forge any alliance with big parties; our leaders believe that small parties should be taken together. We are already in alliance with RLD, Mahan Dal, and an outfit of the Chauhan community headed by Sanjay Chauhan. You have seen the fate of the alliance with the BSP and Congress during earlier elections,” he said.
On the family feud, the SP chief said: “Shivpal Yadav is my chacha (uncle) and the party has already decided to not field a candidate from Jaswant Nagar against him. Shivpal ji has his own party and hence it will be an alliance. I have sought blessings from Lalu ji and it will definitely be a boost for us. Neta ji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) has health issues and if his health allows, he will also play an active role in the UP Assembly polls.”

Yadav expressed confidence of winning the polls next year and thanked the people for supporting the party in the recent panchayat elections. “I want to thank the people of UP for their support during panchayat elections. The BJP government misused the official machinery, yet it could not deter people from voting for the SP candidates. We are going to form the next government in 2022,” he claimed.

The SP chief said many BJP MLAs are unhappy with CM Yogi Adityanath over Covid management in the state. He also spoke on the change of mind regarding the Covid vaccine. Earlier, Akhilesh had referred to it as the “BJP vaccine”.
“When I had said ‘BJP vaccine’ there were trials going on and many experts had also raised questions. The government, on the other hand, failed to provide free vaccines to people. I want the poor and needy to get vaccinated first, I will take it at last,” he said.

On the Covid handling by the Yogi Adityanath government, Akhilesh Yadav said: “The BJP abandoned people during the pandemic as people were desperate for oxygen and hospital beds. Many died waiting for ambulances. Teachers who were forced to go on panchayat election duty died due to corona while many policemen also lost their lives.”
He also targeted the BJP government for failing to complete the Purvanchal Expressway even after four-and-a-half years.

“Even after four-and-a-half years, the BJP government has not been able to complete the Purvanchal Expressway which was started by the Samajwadi Party government,” he added.