UP Polls: Chandrashekhar Azad Says Won't Form Alliance With SP. Mamata To Campaign For Akhilesh

Alliance talks between Chandrashekhar Azad and Akhilesh failed to fructify after disagreement over seat sharing. It was reported that SP had offered two seats to Azad's party.

Chandrashekhar Azad and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav (PTI file)

New Delhi: Chandrashekhar Azad said his Aazad Samaj Party won't form an alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh election.

However, Azad said he was open for a tie-up with other Opposition parties and maintained that "his fight" has always been with the RSS and the BJP.

"I have made it clear. The time was till today (Tuesday) for the leader whom I had approached for an alliance to stop the BJP. I announce this today that we are not going with them (SP). Now, even if they offer us 100 seats we will not tie-up with them because it's a matter of self-respect," PTI quoted Azad as saying.

Alliance talks between Chandrashekhar Azad and Akhilesh failed to fructify after disagreement over seat sharing. It was reported that SP had offered two seats to Azad's party.

Azad said workers and activists of the Bhim Army, a Dalit outfit he founded, and the ASP were strong enough to compete in the polls and have a reach at village level.

However, Azad said he would not field candidates against the RLD, which has a tie-up with the SP. 

Mamata Banerjee To Campaign For Samajwadi Party

Meanwhile, SP vice-president Kiranmay Nanda said Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee would campaign for Samajwadi Party next month.

Nanda, who held a meeting with Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday, also said the TMC would not contest the upcoming polls. Banerjee will also visit Varanasi, the constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later in February.

"The Trinamool Congress will not contest in Uttar Pradesh and will support Samajwadi Party in the fight against the BJP. Mamata Banerjee will hold virtual campaigns along with SP president Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow and Varanasi. She will be in Lucknow on February 8 and attend a virtual campaign. She will then will hold a joint press conference with Akhileshji," PTI quoted Nanda as saying.

Elections to the 403 seats of the UP Assembly will take place in seven phases, beginning February 10. The results will be announced on March 10.