SP-BSP will contest 2019 Lok Sabha polls together; Mayawati, Akhilesh will decide on Congress: Ram Gopal Yadav

Amid buzz over an anti-BJP Mahagathbandhan in Uttar Pradesh in run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav on Monday said the SP and BSP will contest the upcoming general elections together and that Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav will soon announce its roadmap.

Ram Gopal Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav. Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI: Amid buzz over an anti-BJP Mahagathbandhan in Uttar Pradesh in run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav on Monday hinted the SP and the BSP will contest the upcoming general elections together and said that Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav will soon announce the roadmap of the alliance. "Everyone knows there is going to be a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh. It will be done for sure. The SP and the BSP hold utmost importance (in the alliance). Akhilesh ji and Mayawati ji will decide with whom the alliance has to be done," Yadav said. After defeating the BJP in a slew of bypolls in the state, the SP and the BSP are said to be working for an electoral tie-up in UP where the BJP and its allies won 73 of the 80 seats in the last general elections. When asked it the Congress will be a part of the 'Mahagathbandhan', Yadav said Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav will take a call on it. "I am not authorised to speak on it. Akhilesh ji and Mayawati ji will decide," he said. The SP leader's statement came a day after party chief Akhilesh Yadav said there will be a confluence of thoughts in Uttar Pradesh and very soon people will know about it. "In UP, there will be sangam (confluence) of people and sangam of thoughts, and very soon it will be in front of you," Akhilesh had said. Asked whether the Congress will be a part of this confluence, he said, "I said that there will be sangam of people and thoughts. All answers are included in this." In spite of helping the Congress form government in Madhya Pradesh, both Yadav and Mayawati have been staying away from the grand old party. Yadav didn't hide his displeasure when lone SP lawmaker in Madhya Pradesh was not included in Kamal Nath's cabinet. He had said by doing so, the Congress "cleared the path for Uttar Pradesh". While lending support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Mayawati had said that she was helping it to form the government to keep the BJP out. Amid the hints dropped by the SP and the BSP, the Congress Saturday had said it was open to an alliance in UP with any party that wants to "free" the people from BJP rule.