Amid claims by an Indian cyber expert that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be hacked, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday reacted to the row. The Union Minister alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which the cyber expert claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged.

The event was sponsored by the Congress, the minister of Electronics and IT said at a press conference in New Delhi today.&nbsp;

Prasad stated that the cyber expert's claim will be exposed, adding that the Congress insulted the 2014 mandate.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/evm-hacking-claim-election-commission-asserts-foolproof-nature-of-its-machines-mulls-legal-action-191855">Election Commission of India on Monday</a> stated that it firmly stands by "empirical facts about foolproof nature" of its machines and said it is examining as to what legal action "can and should" be taken in the matter, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, political leaders from across the country have reacted to the report. Andhra Pradesh chief minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/evm-hackathon-andhra-cm-demands-election-commission-to-revert-to-paper-ballot-system-191876">N Chandrababu Naidu</a> stated the Commission must go back to using ballot box system for the upcoming general elections.&nbsp;

BSP president and SP chief, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, also spoke in favour of a strict probe into the matter. &nbsp;

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Mayawati: Keeping democracy's larger interest in view,essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper,taking this into cognizance. <a href="https://t.co/iNSxO9CSnc">pic.twitter.com/iNSxO9CSnc</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1087623820939276289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Keeping democracy's larger interest in view, essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper, taking this into cognizance," Mayawati told reporters on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC &amp; govt should make a decision," Akhilesh Yadav noted.&nbsp;

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Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief: If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC &amp; govt should make a decision. <a href="https://t.co/r5zvjDDInK">pic.twitter.com/r5zvjDDInK</a>
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An Indian cyber expert, seeking political asylum in the US, Monday claimed the 2014 general election was "rigged" through the electronic voting machines, which, he said can be hacked.

Addressing a press conference in London via Skype, the man, identified as Syed Shuja, said he fled India in 2014 because he felt threatened in the country after the killing of some of his team members, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

Amid claims by an Indian cyber expert that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be hacked, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday reacted to the row. The Union Minister alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which the cyber expert claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged.

Amid claims by an Indian cyber expert that electronic voting machines (EVMs) can be hacked, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Tuesday reacted to the row. The Union Minister alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which the cyber expert claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged. The event was sponsored by the Congress, the minister of Electronics and IT said at a press conference in New Delhi today. Prasad stated that the cyber expert's claim will be exposed, adding that the Congress insulted the 2014 mandate. The Election Commission of India on Monday stated that it firmly stands by "empirical facts about foolproof nature" of its machines and said it is examining as to what legal action "can and should" be taken in the matter, news agency PTI reported. Meanwhile, political leaders from across the country have reacted to the report. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu stated the Commission must go back to using ballot box system for the upcoming general elections. BSP president and SP chief, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, also spoke in favour of a strict probe into the matter. Mayawati: Keeping democracy's larger interest in view,essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper,taking this into cognizance. pic.twitter.com/iNSxO9CSnc — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 22, 2019 × "Keeping democracy's larger interest in view, essential to look into EVM matter so that it gets resolved soon. It's possible to validate ballot paper but it's not the case with EVM. We demand EC to hold 2019 general election using ballot paper, taking this into cognizance," Mayawati told reporters on Tuesday. "If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC & govt should make a decision," Akhilesh Yadav noted. Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief: If someone has raised a question then it must be thought that what is the reason that a developed country like Japan is not using EVMs. It is not a question of a political party, it's a question of trust in democracy. EC & govt should make a decision. pic.twitter.com/r5zvjDDInK — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 22, 2019 × An Indian cyber expert, seeking political asylum in the US, Monday claimed the 2014 general election was "rigged" through the electronic voting machines, which, he said can be hacked. Addressing a press conference in London via Skype, the man, identified as Syed Shuja, said he fled India in 2014 because he felt threatened in the country after the killing of some of his team members, news agency PTI reported.

EVM hacking claim: Centre alleges Congress organised hackathon in London, opposition says switch back to ballot box

Sharing the stage with opposition leaders in Kolkata, disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha Saturday called for changing the government in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-will-be-second-fight-for-independence-stalin-at-tmcs-opposition-rally-191385">2019 Lok Sabha election</a> and said he was not afraid of being removed from the ruling party.

He insisted he would continue to "show mirror" to the party and call "a spade a spade".

Sinha has been at odds with his party over several issues and has criticised the demonetisation exercise and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. He has said he was attending the rally hosted by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as a representative of the Rashtra Manch, a political action group launched by former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.

"My elder brother Yashwant Sinha was saying that after this I will be definitely removed from the party, I told him 'koi baat nahi hai' (no problem)," he said at the rally attended by several opposition leaders, including from the AAP and the RJD.

Known for his powerful dialogues in Hindi movies, Sinha said, "He is in Bharatiya Janata Party but before that he is with Bharat ki janata."

Two days ago, Sinha had said he did not receive "respect" in the BJP and will attend the Kolkata rally, which was being projected as a show of strength by anti-BJP political parties.

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Sinha was called to make his speech after several senior leaders such as former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and chief ministers H D Kumaraswamy, N Chandrababu Naidu and Arvind Kejriwal had made their speech.

He spoke at length and attacked the Modi government on the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal, demonetisation and implementation of GST.

"If you keep suppressing facts, people will continue to say 'chaukidar chor hain'," he said, using the word Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been employing to criticise the prime minister on the Rafale jet deal issue.

Sinha praised Banerjee, Gandhi, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Sinha, who served as a Union minister in the NDA cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said there was "lokshahi" during Vajpayee's tenure and now it's "tanashahi" (dictatorship).

He urged all leaders present at the dais to walk together to usher a change in the country and facilitate a new leadership to take over.&nbsp;

Sinha has been at odds with his party over several issues and has criticised the demonetisation exercise and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax.

Sharing the stage with opposition leaders in Kolkata, disgruntled BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha Saturday called for changing the government in the 2019 Lok Sabha election and said he was not afraid of being removed from the ruling party. He insisted he would continue to "show mirror" to the party and call "a spade a spade". Sinha has been at odds with his party over several issues and has criticised the demonetisation exercise and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. He has said he was attending the rally hosted by TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as a representative of the Rashtra Manch, a political action group launched by former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. "My elder brother Yashwant Sinha was saying that after this I will be definitely removed from the party, I told him 'koi baat nahi hai' (no problem)," he said at the rally attended by several opposition leaders, including from the AAP and the RJD. Known for his powerful dialogues in Hindi movies, Sinha said, "He is in Bharatiya Janata Party but before that he is with Bharat ki janata." Two days ago, Sinha had said he did not receive "respect" in the BJP and will attend the Kolkata rally, which was being projected as a show of strength by anti-BJP political parties. Shatrughan Sinha, BJP at Opposition rally in Kolkata: Agar sach kehna baghawat hai toh samjho hum bhi baghi hain. Main sach ke saath, sidhanton se samjhouta nahi kar sakta. pic.twitter.com/hJE1Z2Mv4P — ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2019 × Sinha was called to make his speech after several senior leaders such as former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, and chief ministers H D Kumaraswamy, N Chandrababu Naidu and Arvind Kejriwal had made their speech. He spoke at length and attacked the Modi government on the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal, demonetisation and implementation of GST. "If you keep suppressing facts, people will continue to say 'chaukidar chor hain'," he said, using the word Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been employing to criticise the prime minister on the Rafale jet deal issue. Sinha praised Banerjee, Gandhi, Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Sinha, who served as a Union minister in the NDA cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said there was "lokshahi" during Vajpayee's tenure and now it's "tanashahi" (dictatorship). He urged all leaders present at the dais to walk together to usher a change in the country and facilitate a new leadership to take over.

Shatrughan Sinha joins opposition leaders at Kolkata rally, says not afraid if BJP removes him

The Samajwadi Party's (SP) alliance with the BSP and the RLD was "final" and there would be no issues as regards seat-sharing in the coming Lok Sabha polls, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sp-bsp-alliance-will-get-its-math-right-in-lok-sabha-polls-akhilesh-yadav-189652&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi1rsP07fbfAhWGdH0KHZRHCAEQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0UdWN6UZbG6_1ecZ1iQ225">party chief Akhilesh Yadav</a> said on Friday, while ruling out any understanding with the Congress.

"Our alliance with the BSP, the RLD and smaller parties like the Nishad Party is final and seat-sharing will not be a problem. It will be worked out soon. We have emerged as a strong force in the state, which has changed the tone and tenor of the BJP, whose leaders have started using foul language against us," the SP national president told PTI.

"Uttar Pradesh has always acted as a catalyst for change. This time, the people of the state will change the prime minister. Our fight is with the BJP and the people are supporting us," Yadav said in an interview at the SP headquarters here.

He, however, ducked the question as to who would be his choice as the next prime minister.

Maintaining that the SP will only "concentrate" in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav ruled out any understanding with the Congress in the state in the Lok Sabha polls.

"How can we have an understanding with it (Congress)? It is a national party. We have given them two seats (Amethi and Raebareli), which the SP had been leaving for them. Presently, my focus is on Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand also, the SP will field one or two candidates who are strong and we will explore (the possibility of an) alliance with others," he said.

Reminded about his friendship with Congress president Rahul Gandhi (48), with whom he had given the "UP ke ladke" (boys from UP) slogan in the 2017 state Assembly polls, Yadav, who is three years younger to Gandhi, said, "I will not like to talk about the Congress as of now."

Asked about his recent meeting with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chowdhury, he said, "Our alliance is final. In Kairana, we had fielded RLD leader Tabassum Hasan on an SP ticket. We will give Mathura and Baghpat to them, which they want. There is no problem in the alliance now."

Asked about Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati's charge that his uncle and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Yadav was being financed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Yadav preferred not to speak.

"I will not say anything on this," he said.

Announcing the SP-BSP tie-up at a press conference last week, Mayawati had claimed that the BJP had funded Shivpal's party and said the entire money would go down the drain as there would be no split in the SP-BSP votes.

On the BJP, Yadav said, "It had promised many things, but those were never met. The common people are fed up with it and are looking at an alternative. They have only hope, which is the SP-BSP alliance."

Attacking the saffron party, he said it had changed its Uttar Pradesh in-charge only to save one seat (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi).

"The BJP MPs did not work on the ground. They never visited their areas. Now it is being said that they are going to change 60 per cent of their candidates. But such tricks will not work now," Yadav said.

In a lighter vein, he added, "If only they can manage to control the stray cattle, they can get some votes of the farmers."

On the claim of JP Nadda, the BJP's poll in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, that the saffron party would win 74 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Yadav said, "They can claim of winning even 82 seats, despite the fact that Uttar Pradesh has only 80 seats."

Nadda, the Union health minister, during his visit here this week had asserted that the BJP and its allies would bag at least 74 Lok Sabha seats -- one more than the NDA tally in 2014 — in Uttar Pradesh.

On reports of a slew of poll sops the Centre was planning to announce in its Budget, Yadav said, "All the major steps of the Centre like demonetisation, GST and claims of good governance have failed. They cannot be trusted. I want to alert my party workers that the BJP cannot be trusted. They can resort to any conspiracy or gimmick for political gains."

On the ongoing Kumbh at Allahabad, the SP chief said, "They (BJP) have renamed the Ardh-Kumbh as Kumbh. At Kumbh, people are not invited. People themselves come to attend it to attain 'Moksha' (salvation). Are they calling people for Moksha?"

Asked about state Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh's claim that the crime rate was witnessing a downward trend in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav questioned the data.

"The Centre's data claims to have given jobs to the youth. Did they get those jobs? The law-and-order situation of the state is known to all. The lie will not work any longer," he said.

On reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) might quiz him in connection with a mining scam, Yadav said, "I will answer them. These are the BJP's tactics ahead of the polls."

On the possibility of his wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "I do not want her to contest this time. However, the decision is hers. We have to bring up three children. The house is now far from the children's school. How to manage their tuitions etc. Needs to be seen."

"They (the BJP government) have not approved the map for our house construction. They do not understand the responsibilities of a family as they do not have one," Yadav said.

 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The Samajwadi Party's (SP) alliance with the BSP and the RLD was "final" and there would be no issues as regards seat-sharing in the coming Lok Sabha polls, party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday, while ruling out any understanding with the Congress.

The Samajwadi Party's (SP) alliance with the BSP and the RLD was "final" and there would be no issues as regards seat-sharing in the coming Lok Sabha polls, party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday, while ruling out any understanding with the Congress. "Our alliance with the BSP, the RLD and smaller parties like the Nishad Party is final and seat-sharing will not be a problem. It will be worked out soon. We have emerged as a strong force in the state, which has changed the tone and tenor of the BJP, whose leaders have started using foul language against us," the SP national president told PTI. "Uttar Pradesh has always acted as a catalyst for change. This time, the people of the state will change the prime minister. Our fight is with the BJP and the people are supporting us," Yadav said in an interview at the SP headquarters here. He, however, ducked the question as to who would be his choice as the next prime minister. Maintaining that the SP will only "concentrate" in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav ruled out any understanding with the Congress in the state in the Lok Sabha polls. "How can we have an understanding with it (Congress)? It is a national party. We have given them two seats (Amethi and Raebareli), which the SP had been leaving for them. Presently, my focus is on Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand also, the SP will field one or two candidates who are strong and we will explore (the possibility of an) alliance with others," he said. Reminded about his friendship with Congress president Rahul Gandhi (48), with whom he had given the "UP ke ladke" (boys from UP) slogan in the 2017 state Assembly polls, Yadav, who is three years younger to Gandhi, said, "I will not like to talk about the Congress as of now." Asked about his recent meeting with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chowdhury, he said, "Our alliance is final. In Kairana, we had fielded RLD leader Tabassum Hasan on an SP ticket. We will give Mathura and Baghpat to them, which they want. There is no problem in the alliance now." Asked about Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati's charge that his uncle and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Yadav was being financed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Yadav preferred not to speak. "I will not say anything on this," he said. Announcing the SP-BSP tie-up at a press conference last week, Mayawati had claimed that the BJP had funded Shivpal's party and said the entire money would go down the drain as there would be no split in the SP-BSP votes. On the BJP, Yadav said, "It had promised many things, but those were never met. The common people are fed up with it and are looking at an alternative. They have only hope, which is the SP-BSP alliance." Attacking the saffron party, he said it had changed its Uttar Pradesh in-charge only to save one seat (of Prime Minister Narendra Modi). "The BJP MPs did not work on the ground. They never visited their areas. Now it is being said that they are going to change 60 per cent of their candidates. But such tricks will not work now," Yadav said. In a lighter vein, he added, "If only they can manage to control the stray cattle, they can get some votes of the farmers." On the claim of JP Nadda, the BJP's poll in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, that the saffron party would win 74 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Yadav said, "They can claim of winning even 82 seats, despite the fact that Uttar Pradesh has only 80 seats." Nadda, the Union health minister, during his visit here this week had asserted that the BJP and its allies would bag at least 74 Lok Sabha seats -- one more than the NDA tally in 2014 — in Uttar Pradesh. On reports of a slew of poll sops the Centre was planning to announce in its Budget, Yadav said, "All the major steps of the Centre like demonetisation, GST and claims of good governance have failed. They cannot be trusted. I want to alert my party workers that the BJP cannot be trusted. They can resort to any conspiracy or gimmick for political gains." On the ongoing Kumbh at Allahabad, the SP chief said, "They (BJP) have renamed the Ardh-Kumbh as Kumbh. At Kumbh, people are not invited. People themselves come to attend it to attain 'Moksha' (salvation). Are they calling people for Moksha?" Asked about state Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh's claim that the crime rate was witnessing a downward trend in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav questioned the data. "The Centre's data claims to have given jobs to the youth. Did they get those jobs? The law-and-order situation of the state is known to all. The lie will not work any longer," he said. On reports that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) might quiz him in connection with a mining scam, Yadav said, "I will answer them. These are the BJP's tactics ahead of the polls." On the possibility of his wife and Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, "I do not want her to contest this time. However, the decision is hers. We have to bring up three children. The house is now far from the children's school. How to manage their tuitions etc. Needs to be seen." "They (the BJP government) have not approved the map for our house construction. They do not understand the responsibilities of a family as they do not have one," Yadav said.

Alliance with BSP, RLD final; seat-sharing no problem: Akhilesh Yadav

DIG Gagandeep Gambhir, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer who was investigating former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav`s role in the illegal sand mining scam has been transferred, sources said on Tuesday.

CBI sources said that Gambhir, who was investigating the role of Akhilesh and other bureaucrats in the illegal sand mining scam, has been transferred to anti-corruption ACIII from special crime unit SCII.

Anish Prasad, who was deputy director of CBI, will now be investigating the sand mining scam, said sources.ACIII, where Gambhir has been transferred, is currently investigating Bihar`s Srijan scam and journalist Upendra Rai`s case.

On Saturday, CBI carried out searches at 12 places in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in an ongoing investigation of a case relating to alleged illegal mining of minerals in Hamirpur.

During the searches, incriminating material pertaining to illegal sand mining, including huge cash and gold were recovered.

CBI registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the then District Magistrate of Hamirpur, then Geologist/Mining Officer, the then mining clerk and eight others including leaseholders, private persons and other unknown public servants and unknown persons.

Earlier, an inquiry into the alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in district Hamirpur was conducted on the orders the Allahabad High Court.

It was alleged that public servants in criminal conspiracy with other accused allowed illegal mining of minor minerals in the district during 2012-2016.

It was further alleged that they had illegally granted fresh leases for mining of sand, renewed existing leases and permitted obstructed period to the existing leaseholders and thereby caused wrongful loss to the government exchequer and undue gain to themselves.

It was also alleged that other persons were allowed to excavate minor minerals illegally, to commit theft of the minor minerals and to extort money from the leaseholders as well as from the drivers of the vehicles transporting minor minerals.

Government officials, along with private individuals, had allegedly allocated some illegal mining sites by flouting rules and regulations between the year 2012 and 2016.

Mining rights were also given in violation of NGT orders.

Yadav held the charge of Mining Ministry between 2012 to July 2013 and hence can come under scanner in the ongoing probe.

CBI sources also confirmed that all those who held portfolios at the time of the scam will be investigated.

DIG Gagandeep Gambhir, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer who was investigating former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav`s role in the illegal sand mining scam has been transferred, sources said on Tuesday.

DIG Gagandeep Gambhir, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer who was investigating former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav`s role in the illegal sand mining scam has been transferred, sources said on Tuesday. CBI sources said that Gambhir, who was investigating the role of Akhilesh and other bureaucrats in the illegal sand mining scam, has been transferred to anti-corruption ACIII from special crime unit SCII. Anish Prasad, who was deputy director of CBI, will now be investigating the sand mining scam, said sources.ACIII, where Gambhir has been transferred, is currently investigating Bihar`s Srijan scam and journalist Upendra Rai`s case. On Saturday, CBI carried out searches at 12 places in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in an ongoing investigation of a case relating to alleged illegal mining of minerals in Hamirpur. During the searches, incriminating material pertaining to illegal sand mining, including huge cash and gold were recovered. CBI registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the then District Magistrate of Hamirpur, then Geologist/Mining Officer, the then mining clerk and eight others including leaseholders, private persons and other unknown public servants and unknown persons. Earlier, an inquiry into the alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in district Hamirpur was conducted on the orders the Allahabad High Court. It was alleged that public servants in criminal conspiracy with other accused allowed illegal mining of minor minerals in the district during 2012-2016. It was further alleged that they had illegally granted fresh leases for mining of sand, renewed existing leases and permitted obstructed period to the existing leaseholders and thereby caused wrongful loss to the government exchequer and undue gain to themselves. It was also alleged that other persons were allowed to excavate minor minerals illegally, to commit theft of the minor minerals and to extort money from the leaseholders as well as from the drivers of the vehicles transporting minor minerals. Government officials, along with private individuals, had allegedly allocated some illegal mining sites by flouting rules and regulations between the year 2012 and 2016. Mining rights were also given in violation of NGT orders. Yadav held the charge of Mining Ministry between 2012 to July 2013 and hence can come under scanner in the ongoing probe. CBI sources also confirmed that all those who held portfolios at the time of the scam will be investigated.

CBI officer probing Akhilesh's role in sand mining scam transferred

The political wheels have come full circle in Uttar Pradesh. About 25 years ago, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party came together to successfully contest the 1993 Assembly elections in the state. The idea was to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at bay following its rise. Now the two parties have aligned yet again to counter the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Since we are into history, let’s recall a few incidents that happened thereafter.&nbsp;

Then it was Mulayam Singh Yadav from the SP and Kanshi Ram from the BSP who stitched the partnership. Two prominent industrialists had played a significant role in bringing the rivals together, and they were subsequently rewarded with Rajya Sabha seats. The BJP still won the largest number of seats but fell short of a majority, while the combined numerical strength of the SP and the BSP led to the formation of a coalition regime with Mulayam Singh Yadav as the chief minister. Mayawati did not join the government, but she was entrusted with the task of supervising the partnership. &nbsp;

The alliance worked well for the first few months, but friction began to develop thereafter, more so after incidents of violence which had erupted following the removal of an Ambedkar statue in Meerut in 1994. The state police, which had a good number from the Yadav caste, came down hard on the protesters and at least two members of the Scheduled Castes died in the firing. More problems arose when the Yadav community protested against the installation of an Ambedkar statue on a plot of land it claimed belonged to the community. The Yadav-Scheduled Caste confrontation led Mayawati to get aggressive, and soon reports began to circulate that she was interfering in the functioning of the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government. &nbsp;

Then came then infamous guest house incident in mid-1995. By then, political equations had begun to change in Lucknow. The BJP and the BSP had got closer to each other with the latter realising it would have to pull out of the coalition regime to keep its Scheduled caste vote-base intact. Indeed, Mayawati had met the Governor and effectively withdrawn support to the government. All hell broke. Mayawati had summoned a meeting of her legislators at the state guest house in Lucknow to discuss further course of action. Once the meeting was done, the BSP leader was closeted with a few senior leaders for fine-tuning the political strategy. A mob of around 200 SP leaders and supporters attacked the guest house and raised casteist slogans against her and her community. It was followed by more filthy language and threats to kill. Power supply to the guest house was cut off and the mob shouted for Mayawati to be dragged out and taught a lesson. The BSP legislators who came in contact with the mob were brutally assaulted. &nbsp;

Two junior police officers came to Mayawati’s rescue. Later the district magistrate of Lucknow and some BJP leaders played important roles in the rescue of the BSP leader. A traumatic Mayawati and her guru Kanshi Ram vowed to never do business with the SP. She soon became chief minister with the BJP’s support.&nbsp;

Cut to the present: On Saturday, sharing the stage with SP leader Akhilesh Yadav to announce the renewed partnership between the SP and the BSP and the seat-sharing deal, Mayawati remarked that she was willing to forgive and forget the 1995 incident in the larger interests of the nation (read, to get rid of the Modi government from the Centre). &nbsp;

Then, as now, the common factor is the need to counter the BJP. But that’s where the commonality ends. The first difference is that the two leaders who made the alliance possible in 1993 are not in the picture this time around. Kanshi Ram is dead and Mulayam Singh Yadav is a mere bystander in the party which he founded. While both Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh Yadav were astute, in the present case Mayawati, now a veteran both in terms of years in politics and mercurial nature, clearly has the edge, whereas Akhilesh Yadav is subdued by his relatively junior status and inexperience. Everybody knows who will call the shots in the post-result scenario if the combine does well, is not a secret.&nbsp;

The second difference is that the 1993 alliance had been for Assembly elections, whereas the present one — at least for now — is for the Lok Sabha polls. Then it was Mulayam-Kanshi Ram versus Kalyan Singh of the BJP, who had been deposed as chief minister following the Ayodhya mosque destruction incident. Today it is Akhilesh-Mayawati versus Narendra Modi — a more formidable challenge.&nbsp;

The third refers to the political status of the BJP. Then, the BJP was not in power either at the Centre or in the state. Today it’s there in both places. In the 2014 general elections, the party had got 40 per cent of the vote-share in Uttar Pradesh. The SP could manage only five seats while the BSP ended with none. The situation was not much different in the 2017 assembly polls where the SP and the BSP had to bite the dust while the BJP romped home with a huge majority. &nbsp;And yet the SP-BSP combine has reason to feel upbeat. It had tasted blood in the Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypolls, and this had proved to be a trigger to explore a formalise alliance between the two parties.&nbsp; &nbsp;

There, questions remain: First, will the coalition deliver in 2019? Will it last in case of failure? Will it sustain even after the victory or become victim to ego battles, as had happened in 1995?&nbsp;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The political wheels have come full circle in Uttar Pradesh. About 25 years ago, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party came together to successfully contest the 1993 Assembly elections in the state.

The political wheels have come full circle in Uttar Pradesh. About 25 years ago, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party came together to successfully contest the 1993 Assembly elections in the state. The idea was to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at bay following its rise. Now the two parties have aligned yet again to counter the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Since we are into history, let’s recall a few incidents that happened thereafter. Then it was Mulayam Singh Yadav from the SP and Kanshi Ram from the BSP who stitched the partnership. Two prominent industrialists had played a significant role in bringing the rivals together, and they were subsequently rewarded with Rajya Sabha seats. The BJP still won the largest number of seats but fell short of a majority, while the combined numerical strength of the SP and the BSP led to the formation of a coalition regime with Mulayam Singh Yadav as the chief minister. Mayawati did not join the government, but she was entrusted with the task of supervising the partnership. The alliance worked well for the first few months, but friction began to develop thereafter, more so after incidents of violence which had erupted following the removal of an Ambedkar statue in Meerut in 1994. The state police, which had a good number from the Yadav caste, came down hard on the protesters and at least two members of the Scheduled Castes died in the firing. More problems arose when the Yadav community protested against the installation of an Ambedkar statue on a plot of land it claimed belonged to the community. The Yadav-Scheduled Caste confrontation led Mayawati to get aggressive, and soon reports began to circulate that she was interfering in the functioning of the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government. Then came then infamous guest house incident in mid-1995. By then, political equations had begun to change in Lucknow. The BJP and the BSP had got closer to each other with the latter realising it would have to pull out of the coalition regime to keep its Scheduled caste vote-base intact. Indeed, Mayawati had met the Governor and effectively withdrawn support to the government. All hell broke. Mayawati had summoned a meeting of her legislators at the state guest house in Lucknow to discuss further course of action. Once the meeting was done, the BSP leader was closeted with a few senior leaders for fine-tuning the political strategy. A mob of around 200 SP leaders and supporters attacked the guest house and raised casteist slogans against her and her community. It was followed by more filthy language and threats to kill. Power supply to the guest house was cut off and the mob shouted for Mayawati to be dragged out and taught a lesson. The BSP legislators who came in contact with the mob were brutally assaulted. Two junior police officers came to Mayawati’s rescue. Later the district magistrate of Lucknow and some BJP leaders played important roles in the rescue of the BSP leader. A traumatic Mayawati and her guru Kanshi Ram vowed to never do business with the SP. She soon became chief minister with the BJP’s support. Cut to the present: On Saturday, sharing the stage with SP leader Akhilesh Yadav to announce the renewed partnership between the SP and the BSP and the seat-sharing deal, Mayawati remarked that she was willing to forgive and forget the 1995 incident in the larger interests of the nation (read, to get rid of the Modi government from the Centre). Then, as now, the common factor is the need to counter the BJP. But that’s where the commonality ends. The first difference is that the two leaders who made the alliance possible in 1993 are not in the picture this time around. Kanshi Ram is dead and Mulayam Singh Yadav is a mere bystander in the party which he founded. While both Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh Yadav were astute, in the present case Mayawati, now a veteran both in terms of years in politics and mercurial nature, clearly has the edge, whereas Akhilesh Yadav is subdued by his relatively junior status and inexperience. Everybody knows who will call the shots in the post-result scenario if the combine does well, is not a secret. The second difference is that the 1993 alliance had been for Assembly elections, whereas the present one — at least for now — is for the Lok Sabha polls. Then it was Mulayam-Kanshi Ram versus Kalyan Singh of the BJP, who had been deposed as chief minister following the Ayodhya mosque destruction incident. Today it is Akhilesh-Mayawati versus Narendra Modi — a more formidable challenge. The third refers to the political status of the BJP. Then, the BJP was not in power either at the Centre or in the state. Today it’s there in both places. In the 2014 general elections, the party had got 40 per cent of the vote-share in Uttar Pradesh. The SP could manage only five seats while the BSP ended with none. The situation was not much different in the 2017 assembly polls where the SP and the BSP had to bite the dust while the BJP romped home with a huge majority. And yet the SP-BSP combine has reason to feel upbeat. It had tasted blood in the Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypolls, and this had proved to be a trigger to explore a formalise alliance between the two parties. There, questions remain: First, will the coalition deliver in 2019? Will it last in case of failure? Will it sustain even after the victory or become victim to ego battles, as had happened in 1995? (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

BSP-SP alliance returns after 25 years; will the coalition deliver in 2019?

Ahead of the crucial joint press conference by&nbsp;Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati,&nbsp;photographs of both the leaders in the same poster have sprung up in Lucknow.&nbsp;

Besides Akhilesh and Mayawati, the posters also feature senior leaders like BSP All India General Secretary Satish Chandra Misra and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, with a slogan humara kaam bolta hai and Bhajpa ka jhoot bolta hai (Our work speaks, BJP`s lie speaks).

SP and BSP have been in talks for weeks in order to&nbsp;forge an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019. A meeting between the two leaders recently had triggered a lot of speculation about seat-sharing being firmed up.&nbsp;

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SP-BSP posters and party flags seen in Lucknow. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati will jointly address the media later today <a href="https://t.co/bfxRUVMJcx">pic.twitter.com/bfxRUVMJcx</a>
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The two parties are likely to announce an alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the presser today.

Earlier, senior SP leader Prof Ram Gopal Yadav had said: "Mayawati and Akhilesh will decide with whom the `grand alliance` has to be formed in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

"Everyone knows that there is going to be a grand alliance. In Uttar Pradesh, SP and BSP are the most important parties," he added.

Among all the states, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of 80 Lok Sabha seats out the 543 and plays a crucial role in government formation in the Centre.

(With agency inputs)

Ahead of the crucial joint press conference by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, photographs of both the leaders in the same poster have sprung up in Lucknow.

Ahead of the crucial joint press conference by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati, photographs of both the leaders in the same poster have sprung up in Lucknow. Besides Akhilesh and Mayawati, the posters also feature senior leaders like BSP All India General Secretary Satish Chandra Misra and SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, with a slogan humara kaam bolta hai and Bhajpa ka jhoot bolta hai (Our work speaks, BJP`s lie speaks). SP and BSP have been in talks for weeks in order to forge an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019. A meeting between the two leaders recently had triggered a lot of speculation about seat-sharing being firmed up. SP-BSP posters and party flags seen in Lucknow. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati will jointly address the media later today pic.twitter.com/bfxRUVMJcx — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 12, 2019 × The two parties are likely to announce an alliance ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the presser today. Earlier, senior SP leader Prof Ram Gopal Yadav had said: "Mayawati and Akhilesh will decide with whom the `grand alliance` has to be formed in Uttar Pradesh," he said. "Everyone knows that there is going to be a grand alliance. In Uttar Pradesh, SP and BSP are the most important parties," he added. Among all the states, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of 80 Lok Sabha seats out the 543 and plays a crucial role in government formation in the Centre. (With agency inputs)

Ahead of joint press conference, Akhilesh-Mayawati posters spring up in Lucknow

Any grand alliance of Opposition parties against the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will bring in anarchy, corruption and political instability, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Saturday.

"Those who did not like each other are talking about a 'maha gathbandhan'&nbsp;(grand alliance). This is an alliance for corruption, anarchy and political instability," Yogi said as the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party announced their alliance to fight Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP has respected "Ram and roti" through its emphasis on the development of all sections of the society and respect to the faith of the people, Yogi said at the party's national council meeting here.

The UP Chief Minister also attacked the Congress, saying the party furthered the interests of a family, promoted casteism, regionalism and kept the country in limbo for 50 years.

"Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP brought the country out of this state of limbo through welfare schemes for all sections of the society and good governance," he said.

Yogi asserted that in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the BJP will perform better than it did in 2014 and a "strong and capable" government under Modi's leadership will be formed again.

"Ask any impartial person -- a rural woman, a soldier, a farmer or youth -- they will all say 'Kaho Dil Se Modi Phir Se' (they will vouch for bringing in Modi once again)."

Listing out the achievements of the Modi government, Yogi said the country has gained confidence under the leadership of the Prime Minister and nationalism, development and good governance have charted a new direction in the four years of his government.

Any grand alliance of Opposition parties against the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will bring in anarchy, corruption and political instability, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Saturday.

Any grand alliance of Opposition parties against the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will bring in anarchy, corruption and political instability, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Saturday. "Those who did not like each other are talking about a 'maha gathbandhan' (grand alliance). This is an alliance for corruption, anarchy and political instability," Yogi said as the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party announced their alliance to fight Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has respected "Ram and roti" through its emphasis on the development of all sections of the society and respect to the faith of the people, Yogi said at the party's national council meeting here. The UP Chief Minister also attacked the Congress, saying the party furthered the interests of a family, promoted casteism, regionalism and kept the country in limbo for 50 years. "Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP brought the country out of this state of limbo through welfare schemes for all sections of the society and good governance," he said. Yogi asserted that in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the BJP will perform better than it did in 2014 and a "strong and capable" government under Modi's leadership will be formed again. "Ask any impartial person -- a rural woman, a soldier, a farmer or youth -- they will all say 'Kaho Dil Se Modi Phir Se' (they will vouch for bringing in Modi once again)." Listing out the achievements of the Modi government, Yogi said the country has gained confidence under the leadership of the Prime Minister and nationalism, development and good governance have charted a new direction in the four years of his government.

Grand alliance is for anarchy, corruption, political instability: Yogi Adityanath

Call it political compulsion or an eye on the maximum number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the coming together of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party only proves the adage that in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes.&nbsp;

Once-arch rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Saturday announced their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bsp-sp-to-contest-38-seats-each-alliance-will-give-sleepless-nights-to-modi-shah-says-mayawati-189793">sharing 38 seats each</a> and keeping the Congress out of the alliance.

The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. They also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies.

The parties seem to have forgotten their two-decade-old antagonism for a "political revolution" which they hope would "last long".

"I am moving ahead of the 1995 guesthouse incident in the interest of the country and to serve the people, who are upset with the BJP's 'anti-people' policies," BSP supremo Mayawati said Saturday at a press conference here which was also attended by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.&nbsp;

"The SP-BSP tie-up is a natural alliance. Yeh lamba chaleyga, aagey bhi chaleyga, Lok Sabha chunav ke baad, UP Assembly mein bhi yeh sthayee chalega (This will last long, even beyond LS polls and in UP Assembly elections)," she said, adding it was a "political revolution".

In 1993, SP-BSP had formed an alliance to stop the BJP's winning spree after the Ram temple movement.

Then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP founder Kanshi Ram had joined hands and succeeded in leaving a mark in the state politics by winning 167 Assembly seats. The BSP had got 67 seats and SP 109.&nbsp;

The alliance, however, did not last and ended in 1995 after the infamous Meera Bai Marg guest house incident wherein SP workers misbehaved with Mayawati.&nbsp;

An unruly mob of SP workers had stormed into the Meerabai Guest House here where Mayawati was huddled in a meeting with her MLAs.

Mayawati's room was vandalised, she was abused and allegedly beaten up. When the BSP MLAs failed to protect her, BJP MLA Brahm Dutt Dwivedi took her out of the guest house to safety. It was then that the BSP joined hands with the BJP to form the government in the state.

The incident had left an indelible mark in the relationship between the two parties. It was said Kanshi Ram made numerous efforts to revive the coalition, but Mayawati held the fort in her opposition to a possible tie-up.

However, 23 years later, it seems Mayawati has moved on.&nbsp;

The BSP-SP came close during the parliamentary by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur recently wherein the BSP supported SP candidates who succeeded in winning both the seats - Gorakhpur vacated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Phulpur by his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the SP had won five seats, while the BSP failed to win any seat.&nbsp;

In the 2017 assembly polls, SP and BSP got 22 per cent votes each.

Come to 2019, if both the parties continue to have a say in their traditional vote bank, the combine can create hurdles for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In the politically-crucial Uttar Pradesh, there are about 22 per cent Dalits, 45 per cent OBCs and 19 per cent Muslims, whose vote share will be decisive in the general elections this year.&nbsp;

"The SP-BSP alliance will certainly clear the dilemma of Muslim voters who are anti-BJP and with no division of their votes between SP and BSP, our alliance will get their votes in the major chunk," a senior SP leader said.

Commenting on how the new alliance will be a show stealer, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said, "The path of Delhi's power traverses through Uttar Pradesh and our alliance will be able to stop the BJP for sure.&nbsp;

"The alliance with BSP was founded in my heart when the BJP conspired and got BSP candidate Bhim Rao Ambedkar defeated during the Rajya Sabha biennial polls. I had said that if I had to take two steps backwards for the alliance, I will do it," he said, thanking Mayawati.

Although Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), claimed that he would emerge as a "strong force" in the polls, Mayawati asked people "not to waste their vote on his (Shivpal's) party funded by the BJP".&nbsp;

"BJP's money will go down the drain as it is running Shivpal's party," she said.&nbsp;Akhilesh, however, did not comment on Shivpal's claim.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Call it political compulsion or an eye on the maximum number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the coming together of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party only proves the adage that in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes.

Call it political compulsion or an eye on the maximum number of seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the coming together of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party only proves the adage that in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes. Once-arch rivals Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Saturday announced their tie-up in Uttar Pradesh for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, sharing 38 seats each and keeping the Congress out of the alliance. The parties, however, said they would not field candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli, represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. They also left two seats, out of 80, for smaller allies. The parties seem to have forgotten their two-decade-old antagonism for a "political revolution" which they hope would "last long". "I am moving ahead of the 1995 guesthouse incident in the interest of the country and to serve the people, who are upset with the BJP's 'anti-people' policies," BSP supremo Mayawati said Saturday at a press conference here which was also attended by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. "The SP-BSP tie-up is a natural alliance. Yeh lamba chaleyga, aagey bhi chaleyga, Lok Sabha chunav ke baad, UP Assembly mein bhi yeh sthayee chalega (This will last long, even beyond LS polls and in UP Assembly elections)," she said, adding it was a "political revolution". In 1993, SP-BSP had formed an alliance to stop the BJP's winning spree after the Ram temple movement. Then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP founder Kanshi Ram had joined hands and succeeded in leaving a mark in the state politics by winning 167 Assembly seats. The BSP had got 67 seats and SP 109. The alliance, however, did not last and ended in 1995 after the infamous Meera Bai Marg guest house incident wherein SP workers misbehaved with Mayawati. An unruly mob of SP workers had stormed into the Meerabai Guest House here where Mayawati was huddled in a meeting with her MLAs. Mayawati's room was vandalised, she was abused and allegedly beaten up. When the BSP MLAs failed to protect her, BJP MLA Brahm Dutt Dwivedi took her out of the guest house to safety. It was then that the BSP joined hands with the BJP to form the government in the state. The incident had left an indelible mark in the relationship between the two parties. It was said Kanshi Ram made numerous efforts to revive the coalition, but Mayawati held the fort in her opposition to a possible tie-up. However, 23 years later, it seems Mayawati has moved on. The BSP-SP came close during the parliamentary by-polls in Gorakhpur and Phulpur recently wherein the BSP supported SP candidates who succeeded in winning both the seats - Gorakhpur vacated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Phulpur by his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the SP had won five seats, while the BSP failed to win any seat. In the 2017 assembly polls, SP and BSP got 22 per cent votes each. Come to 2019, if both the parties continue to have a say in their traditional vote bank, the combine can create hurdles for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In the politically-crucial Uttar Pradesh, there are about 22 per cent Dalits, 45 per cent OBCs and 19 per cent Muslims, whose vote share will be decisive in the general elections this year. "The SP-BSP alliance will certainly clear the dilemma of Muslim voters who are anti-BJP and with no division of their votes between SP and BSP, our alliance will get their votes in the major chunk," a senior SP leader said. Commenting on how the new alliance will be a show stealer, SP president Akhilesh Yadav said, "The path of Delhi's power traverses through Uttar Pradesh and our alliance will be able to stop the BJP for sure. "The alliance with BSP was founded in my heart when the BJP conspired and got BSP candidate Bhim Rao Ambedkar defeated during the Rajya Sabha biennial polls. I had said that if I had to take two steps backwards for the alliance, I will do it," he said, thanking Mayawati. Although Akhilesh Yadav's estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), claimed that he would emerge as a "strong force" in the polls, Mayawati asked people "not to waste their vote on his (Shivpal's) party funded by the BJP". "BJP's money will go down the drain as it is running Shivpal's party," she said. Akhilesh, however, did not comment on Shivpal's claim.

The SP-BSP alliance: How 2 sworn enemies became friends again

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is playing a pivotal role in building a strong opposition front against the ruling BJP, welcomed the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Parliamentary polls on Saturday.

"I welcome the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sp-bsp-alliance-how-sworn-enemies-became-friends-again-189880">alliance of the SP and the BSP</a> for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," she said in a tweet.

A vociferous critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo has been touring the country over the last one year, trying to build an Opposition alliance to take on the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls.

She has invited Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and the leaders of various other opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Janata Dal (Secular), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the National Conference (NC), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Congress and many others to attend a January 19 rally of a united opposition convened by her at the Brigade Parade grounds here.

Although most of the parties have confirmed attending the rally, the Congress is yet to announce whether it will take part in it and whether party chief Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be present on the occasion.

Banerjee had earlier suggested that an alliance between the SP and the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh would wipe out the BJP from the crucial Hindi heartland state that sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha.

Last year, after the victories of the SP-BSP joint candidates in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, Banerjee had, in a series of tweets, said it was the beginning of the end for the BJP.

A strong advocate of an opposition front, Banerjee has time and again called for putting up a one-on-one fight against the saffron party to ensure the maximum polling of anti-BJP votes.

The TMC chief has already announced that her party will contest all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.&nbsp;

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is playing a pivotal role in building a strong opposition front against the ruling BJP, welcomed the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Parliamentary polls on Saturday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is playing a pivotal role in building a strong opposition front against the ruling BJP, welcomed the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Parliamentary polls on Saturday. "I welcome the alliance of the SP and the BSP for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections," she said in a tweet. A vociferous critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo has been touring the country over the last one year, trying to build an Opposition alliance to take on the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls. She has invited Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and the leaders of various other opposition parties, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Janata Dal (Secular), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the National Conference (NC), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Congress and many others to attend a January 19 rally of a united opposition convened by her at the Brigade Parade grounds here. Although most of the parties have confirmed attending the rally, the Congress is yet to announce whether it will take part in it and whether party chief Rahul Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi will be present on the occasion. Banerjee had earlier suggested that an alliance between the SP and the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh would wipe out the BJP from the crucial Hindi heartland state that sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha. Last year, after the victories of the SP-BSP joint candidates in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls in Uttar Pradesh, Banerjee had, in a series of tweets, said it was the beginning of the end for the BJP. A strong advocate of an opposition front, Banerjee has time and again called for putting up a one-on-one fight against the saffron party to ensure the maximum polling of anti-BJP votes. The TMC chief has already announced that her party will contest all the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.

Engaged in building anti-BJP front, Mamata hails SP-BSP alliance in UP

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief on Saturday gave a rather cryptic response when he was asked whether he would support BSP chief Mayawati for Prime Minister after&nbsp;2019 Lok Sabha polls.

While addressing a joint press conference Yadav was asked whether he will support Mayawati for PM:&nbsp;"You know who is my choice. Uttar Pradesh has given Prime Ministers in the past and trend will be repeated again," Yadav said.&nbsp;

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Akhilesh Yadav on if he will support Mayawati for PM: You know who is my choice. Uttar Pradesh has given Prime Ministers in the past and trend will be repeated again <a href="https://t.co/LzHs9Ijn6e">pic.twitter.com/LzHs9Ijn6e</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1083987072128552960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, commenting on the alliance, Congress leader Kamal Nath said there was a need of alliance&nbsp;in the entire country.

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Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SPBSPalliance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SPBSPalliance</a>: Today there is a need of alliances in the entire country. BJP got only 31% vote in 2014 and claimed it was people's mandate, this happened due to split in votes. <a href="https://t.co/T97kvcZCzp">pic.twitter.com/T97kvcZCzp</a>
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Reacting to the BSP-SP alliance BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the two parties are contesting to save their&nbsp;"political ground".

He said, "Both parties are contesting together just to save their political ground. These parties have blamed each other of murder in the past. Even if all parties come together, we will still win".

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Sudhanshu Trivedi,BJP on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SPBSPalliance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SPBSPalliance</a>: Both parties are contesting together just to save their political ground. These parties have blamed each other of murder in the past. Anyway, its their choice.We are confident. Even if all parties come together, we will still win. <a href="https://t.co/Bc6blr4mjH">pic.twitter.com/Bc6blr4mjH</a>
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Both SP and BSP workers celebrated the announcement of alliance between the two parties.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief on Saturday gave a rather cryptic response when he was asked whether he would support BSP chief Mayawati for Prime Minister after 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief on Saturday gave a rather cryptic response when he was asked whether he would support BSP chief Mayawati for Prime Minister after 2019 Lok Sabha polls. While addressing a joint press conference Yadav was asked whether he will support Mayawati for PM: "You know who is my choice. Uttar Pradesh has given Prime Ministers in the past and trend will be repeated again," Yadav said. Akhilesh Yadav on if he will support Mayawati for PM: You know who is my choice. Uttar Pradesh has given Prime Ministers in the past and trend will be repeated again pic.twitter.com/LzHs9Ijn6e — ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019 × Meanwhile, commenting on the alliance, Congress leader Kamal Nath said there was a need of alliance in the entire country. Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath on #SPBSPalliance: Today there is a need of alliances in the entire country. BJP got only 31% vote in 2014 and claimed it was people's mandate, this happened due to split in votes. pic.twitter.com/T97kvcZCzp — ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019 × Reacting to the BSP-SP alliance BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said that the two parties are contesting to save their "political ground". He said, "Both parties are contesting together just to save their political ground. These parties have blamed each other of murder in the past. Even if all parties come together, we will still win". Sudhanshu Trivedi,BJP on #SPBSPalliance: Both parties are contesting together just to save their political ground. These parties have blamed each other of murder in the past. Anyway, its their choice.We are confident. Even if all parties come together, we will still win. pic.twitter.com/Bc6blr4mjH — ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2019 × Both SP and BSP workers celebrated the announcement of alliance between the two parties.

'You know who is my choice,' says Akhilesh on whether he will support Mayawati for PM

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will address a joint press briefing in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow&nbsp;tomorrow, reported news agency ANI.

Mayawati and Akhilesh are expected to announce the alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in May during the presser.

Akhilesh and Mayawati have been holding talks for several weeks and the two leaders meeting in Delhi last week raised a lot of talk over reports that the two had decided on an alliance leaving the Congress out&nbsp;of the equation.

The alliance between the two major regional parties may challenge BJP's domination in the state where it&nbsp;won whopping 73 seats out of 80 in 2014 polls.&nbsp;

Last year, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati buried their differences and contested three bypolls and won all.&nbsp;

If they replicate their success in the 2019 national polls, BJP's hopes of returning to power at&nbsp;the Centre will face a major test.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will address a joint press briefing in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow tomorrow, reported news agency ANI.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will address a joint press briefing in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow tomorrow, reported news agency ANI. Mayawati and Akhilesh are expected to announce the alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in May during the presser. Akhilesh and Mayawati have been holding talks for several weeks and the two leaders meeting in Delhi last week raised a lot of talk over reports that the two had decided on an alliance leaving the Congress out of the equation. The alliance between the two major regional parties may challenge BJP's domination in the state where it won whopping 73 seats out of 80 in 2014 polls. Last year, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati buried their differences and contested three bypolls and won all. If they replicate their success in the 2019 national polls, BJP's hopes of returning to power at the Centre will face a major test. Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav to address a joint press briefing in Lucknow, tomorrow pic.twitter.com/iUPzVTyprp — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 11, 2019 ×

Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav to hold joint press conference tomorrow, may announce alliance for Lok Sabha polls

A day before his joint press conference with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the alliance will get the math right in the upcoming Lok Sabha election and the BJP will face defeat.

The two parties have agreed to an in-principle alliance ahead of the parliamentary elections, SP's national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary had said last week.

"Last time we had come together in the Lok Sabha by-elections and BJP had lost the seats (earlier held by) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. This time too our math will be right and the BJP will face defeat," Yadav said at a chaupal here.

A formal announcement on the alliance between the two Uttar Pradesh-based parties will be made at Saturday's joint press conference with BSP, he said.

Responding to a question, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the BJP had strengthened because it joined hands with regional parties and his party was also gaining strength by forming a coalition.

"Our (BSP and SP) coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress," Yadav added.

The BSP and SP alliance has virtually shut its doors to Congress in the state.

However, Chaudhary had said the alliance will not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli, leaving the two Lok Sabha constituencies for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and United Progress Alliance chief Sonia Gandhi.

Yadav gave a slogan for the upcoming polls,&nbsp;"Humara kaam bolta hai, BJP ka dhokha bolta hai" (Our work speaks for itself, BJP's betrayal speaks).

He also took a dig at the BJP-led state government's decision to levy an additional 0.5 per cent cess on excise items to fund cow shelters, saying people will have to drink more liquor now for cow safety.&nbsp;

A day before his joint press conference with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the alliance will get the math right in the upcoming Lok Sabha election and the BJP will face defeat.

A day before his joint press conference with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the alliance will get the math right in the upcoming Lok Sabha election and the BJP will face defeat. The two parties have agreed to an in-principle alliance ahead of the parliamentary elections, SP's national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary had said last week. "Last time we had come together in the Lok Sabha by-elections and BJP had lost the seats (earlier held by) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. This time too our math will be right and the BJP will face defeat," Yadav said at a chaupal here. A formal announcement on the alliance between the two Uttar Pradesh-based parties will be made at Saturday's joint press conference with BSP, he said. Responding to a question, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the BJP had strengthened because it joined hands with regional parties and his party was also gaining strength by forming a coalition. "Our (BSP and SP) coming together has not only created fear in the BJP but also in the Congress," Yadav added. The BSP and SP alliance has virtually shut its doors to Congress in the state. However, Chaudhary had said the alliance will not field candidates in Amethi and Raebareli, leaving the two Lok Sabha constituencies for Congress president Rahul Gandhi and United Progress Alliance chief Sonia Gandhi. Yadav gave a slogan for the upcoming polls, "Humara kaam bolta hai, BJP ka dhokha bolta hai" (Our work speaks for itself, BJP's betrayal speaks). He also took a dig at the BJP-led state government's decision to levy an additional 0.5 per cent cess on excise items to fund cow shelters, saying people will have to drink more liquor now for cow safety.

SP-BSP alliance will get its math right in Lok Sabha polls: Akhilesh Yadav

Opposition parties Sunday accused the BJP of using probe agencies for "executing its political strategy" after it emerged that the CBI may quiz SP president Akhilesh Yadav in a case of illegal mining, even as the ruling party asserted he must explain the "loot" during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Yadav may face a CBI probe, according to the agency FIR made public Saturday, the day Samajwadi Party and Mayawati-led BSP indicated their intent to join hands in Uttar Pradesh to fight the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. The agency had also carried out searches at 14 locations.

UP government minister and BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh asserted that instead of questioning the timing of the raids, Yadav should answer why so much "loot" had happened under his government.

The BJP demands that the CBI investigate him and call him for probe, he told reporters at a press conference.

"If you loot public money, then law will take its own course," he said, adding that the CBI is reporting to the Allahabad high court, which had ordered a probe in 2016.

In Lucknow, Yadav put up a brave front, saying he is ready to face the CBI and attacked the BJP, claiming that people will answer it in the Lok Sabha polls.

Suggesting that the CBI action is linked to his talks with the BSP, he said he may have to tell the probe agency details of his alliance with Mayawati.

"Now, we have to tell the CBI how many seats we have distributed in the gathbandhan (alliance). I am happy that at least the BJP has shown its colours. Earlier, the Congress gave us the chance to meet the CBI, and this time it is the BJP, which has given us this opportunity," he said.

In the national capital, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari accused the BJP of practising a politics of "fear" against its rivals and said the country will rid itself of this in the polls.

"Those who are carrying out their political strategy through probe agencies do not last long," he said, adding that even a nursery child can comprehend the political motive behind the CBI's move.

The BJP said the Akhilesh Yadav government during its tenure between 2012-17 was "hand-in-glove" with the accused in the case of alleged mining scam.'

Rejecting the charge that the CBI's searches Saturday in connection with the alleged scam was politically motivated because of the alliance talks between the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, UP government minister Sidharth Nath Singh also told reporters that the BJP has no threat from them.

The two opposition parties are fighting for survival, he said, adding that those who are "langde-lulhe" (physically handicapped) need "baisakhi" (crutches).

The Samajwadi Party chief said the BJP is leaving a "culture", which may be used against it in the future.

"The Samajwadi Party is making efforts to win maximum Lok Sabha seats. Those who want to stop us, have the CBI with them. Once the Congress did the CBI probe, and I was questioned.

If the BJP is doing all this, the CBI will question me, I will answer (them). But, the people are ready to give an answer to the BJP," Yadav told reporters in Lucknow.

Opposition parties Sunday accused the BJP of using probe agencies for "executing its political strategy" after it emerged that the CBI may quiz SP president Akhilesh Yadav in a case of illegal mining, even as the ruling party asserted he must explain the "loot" during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Opposition parties Sunday accused the BJP of using probe agencies for "executing its political strategy" after it emerged that the CBI may quiz SP president Akhilesh Yadav in a case of illegal mining, even as the ruling party asserted he must explain the "loot" during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Yadav may face a CBI probe, according to the agency FIR made public Saturday, the day Samajwadi Party and Mayawati-led BSP indicated their intent to join hands in Uttar Pradesh to fight the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls. The agency had also carried out searches at 14 locations. UP government minister and BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh asserted that instead of questioning the timing of the raids, Yadav should answer why so much "loot" had happened under his government. The BJP demands that the CBI investigate him and call him for probe, he told reporters at a press conference. "If you loot public money, then law will take its own course," he said, adding that the CBI is reporting to the Allahabad high court, which had ordered a probe in 2016. In Lucknow, Yadav put up a brave front, saying he is ready to face the CBI and attacked the BJP, claiming that people will answer it in the Lok Sabha polls. Suggesting that the CBI action is linked to his talks with the BSP, he said he may have to tell the probe agency details of his alliance with Mayawati. "Now, we have to tell the CBI how many seats we have distributed in the gathbandhan (alliance). I am happy that at least the BJP has shown its colours. Earlier, the Congress gave us the chance to meet the CBI, and this time it is the BJP, which has given us this opportunity," he said. In the national capital, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari accused the BJP of practising a politics of "fear" against its rivals and said the country will rid itself of this in the polls. "Those who are carrying out their political strategy through probe agencies do not last long," he said, adding that even a nursery child can comprehend the political motive behind the CBI's move. The BJP said the Akhilesh Yadav government during its tenure between 2012-17 was "hand-in-glove" with the accused in the case of alleged mining scam.' Rejecting the charge that the CBI's searches Saturday in connection with the alleged scam was politically motivated because of the alliance talks between the Samajwadi Party and the BSP, UP government minister Sidharth Nath Singh also told reporters that the BJP has no threat from them. The two opposition parties are fighting for survival, he said, adding that those who are "langde-lulhe" (physically handicapped) need "baisakhi" (crutches). The Samajwadi Party chief said the BJP is leaving a "culture", which may be used against it in the future. "The Samajwadi Party is making efforts to win maximum Lok Sabha seats. Those who want to stop us, have the CBI with them. Once the Congress did the CBI probe, and I was questioned. If the BJP is doing all this, the CBI will question me, I will answer (them). But, the people are ready to give an answer to the BJP," Yadav told reporters in Lucknow.

After being attacked by opposition over mining case, BJP asks Akhilesh to explain 'loot'

Taking swipe at the BJP over reports that the CBI may quiz him in the illegal mining case, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Sunday said that he may have to tell the probe agency details of his alliance with Mayawati.

Talking to reporters in Lucknow, he said he is ready to face the CBI, but people are also ready to answer the BJP.

"Now we have to tell the CBI as to how many seats we have distributed in the gathbandhan (alliance). I am happy that at least the BJP has shown its colours. Earlier, the Congress gave us the chance to meet the CBI, and this time it is the BJP, which has given us this opportunity," Yadav said.

"The Samajwadi Party is making efforts to win maximum Lok?Sabha seats. Those who want to stop us, have the CBI with them. Once the Congress did CBI probe, and I was questioned. If the BJP is doing all this, the CBI will question me, I will answer (them). But, the people are ready to give an answer to the BJP," he added.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister may face a probe by the CBI, according to the agency FIR made public Saturday, the day arch rivals Samajwadi Party and BSP indicated their intent to join hands. The agency also raided 14 locations in connection with the FIR against 11 persons to probe alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16.

"Why is the CBI conducting raids. Whatever they want to ask, they can ask me. However, the BJP should remember that the culture it is leaving behind, it may have to face it in the future," he said.

On formal announcement of seat-sharing with Mayawati's BSP, Yadav said that it is likely to be made within a week. However, he maintained suspense on accommodating the Congress in the alliance, which also includes Ajit Singh's RLD.

The Samajwadi Party and the BSP have decided to fight the upcoming national elections together and have already worked out a seat-sharing arrangement to take on the BJP, which along with its allies won 73 seats from the state in 2014.

"You will come to know about it (alliance) in a week or so," Yadav said. 
On the possibility of the Congress joining the alliance, Yadav said a decision will be taken by him and Mayawati. He declined to elaborate further.

"The BJP has taught us alliances and we are walking on the same path. We are trying to form an alliance with the BSP. The aim of the Samajwadi Party is to bag the maximum number of seats but the ones who wish to stop us, they have the CBI," he said.

Terming the raids politically motivated, Yadav also questioned the credibility of the CBI.

Hitting back, the BJP said Akhilesh Yadav's government was "hand in glove" with the accused in the illegal mining case.

Rejecting Yadav's allegation of vendetta, UP minister Sidharth Nath Singh said, "If you loot public money, then the law will take its own course."

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Singh said instead of questioning the time of the raids, Yadav should answer why so much "loot" had happened under his government.

Congress's Kapil Sibal also attacked the BJP, saying that whoever spoke against it was raided.

The politically crucial Uttar Pradesh sends 80 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha.

By joining hands, the opposition parties had defeated the BJP in three Lok Sabha bypolls in the state last year, the first show of strength after the 2017 Assembly elections which saw the saffron party storm to power in the state after a 14-year hiatus.

The Apna Dal, a significant player in the state politics, is also in talks to be a part of the SP-BSP alliance. It is also talking to the BJP and its chief Krishna Patel said it will tie-up with like-minded parties.

"We will go with like-minded parties, the political parties, which agree with our policies and ideology. At present, we are in talks with senior leaders of different political parties including the SP, BSP, Congress and BJP," she said.

On reports of a rift between the BJP and Anupriya Patel's Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Om Prakash Rajbhar's Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, she said, "I do not want to comment on it. But, as far as OP Rajbhar is concerned, he was once associated with the Apna Dal and headed the youth wing of the party."

The Apna Dal (Sonelal) is a breakaway of the Apna Dal, which was founded in 1995 by Krishna Patel's husband Sone Lal Patel. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) was founded by Jawahar Lal Patel, who was also a founding member of the Apna Dal.&nbsp;

Taking swipe at the BJP over reports that the CBI may quiz him in the illegal mining case, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Sunday said that he may have to tell the probe agency details of his alliance with Mayawati.

Taking swipe at the BJP over reports that the CBI may quiz him in the illegal mining case, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Sunday said that he may have to tell the probe agency details of his alliance with Mayawati. Talking to reporters in Lucknow, he said he is ready to face the CBI, but people are also ready to answer the BJP. "Now we have to tell the CBI as to how many seats we have distributed in the gathbandhan (alliance). I am happy that at least the BJP has shown its colours. Earlier, the Congress gave us the chance to meet the CBI, and this time it is the BJP, which has given us this opportunity," Yadav said. "The Samajwadi Party is making efforts to win maximum Lok?Sabha seats. Those who want to stop us, have the CBI with them. Once the Congress did CBI probe, and I was questioned. If the BJP is doing all this, the CBI will question me, I will answer (them). But, the people are ready to give an answer to the BJP," he added. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister may face a probe by the CBI, according to the agency FIR made public Saturday, the day arch rivals Samajwadi Party and BSP indicated their intent to join hands. The agency also raided 14 locations in connection with the FIR against 11 persons to probe alleged illegal mining of minor minerals in Hamirpur district during 2012-16. "Why is the CBI conducting raids. Whatever they want to ask, they can ask me. However, the BJP should remember that the culture it is leaving behind, it may have to face it in the future," he said. On formal announcement of seat-sharing with Mayawati's BSP, Yadav said that it is likely to be made within a week. However, he maintained suspense on accommodating the Congress in the alliance, which also includes Ajit Singh's RLD. The Samajwadi Party and the BSP have decided to fight the upcoming national elections together and have already worked out a seat-sharing arrangement to take on the BJP, which along with its allies won 73 seats from the state in 2014. "You will come to know about it (alliance) in a week or so," Yadav said. On the possibility of the Congress joining the alliance, Yadav said a decision will be taken by him and Mayawati. He declined to elaborate further. "The BJP has taught us alliances and we are walking on the same path. We are trying to form an alliance with the BSP. The aim of the Samajwadi Party is to bag the maximum number of seats but the ones who wish to stop us, they have the CBI," he said. Terming the raids politically motivated, Yadav also questioned the credibility of the CBI. Hitting back, the BJP said Akhilesh Yadav's government was "hand in glove" with the accused in the illegal mining case. Rejecting Yadav's allegation of vendetta, UP minister Sidharth Nath Singh said, "If you loot public money, then the law will take its own course." Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Singh said instead of questioning the time of the raids, Yadav should answer why so much "loot" had happened under his government. Congress's Kapil Sibal also attacked the BJP, saying that whoever spoke against it was raided. The politically crucial Uttar Pradesh sends 80 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha. By joining hands, the opposition parties had defeated the BJP in three Lok Sabha bypolls in the state last year, the first show of strength after the 2017 Assembly elections which saw the saffron party storm to power in the state after a 14-year hiatus. The Apna Dal, a significant player in the state politics, is also in talks to be a part of the SP-BSP alliance. It is also talking to the BJP and its chief Krishna Patel said it will tie-up with like-minded parties. "We will go with like-minded parties, the political parties, which agree with our policies and ideology. At present, we are in talks with senior leaders of different political parties including the SP, BSP, Congress and BJP," she said. On reports of a rift between the BJP and Anupriya Patel's Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Om Prakash Rajbhar's Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, she said, "I do not want to comment on it. But, as far as OP Rajbhar is concerned, he was once associated with the Apna Dal and headed the youth wing of the party." The Apna Dal (Sonelal) is a breakaway of the Apna Dal, which was founded in 1995 by Krishna Patel's husband Sone Lal Patel. The Apna Dal (Sonelal) was founded by Jawahar Lal Patel, who was also a founding member of the Apna Dal.

Illegal sand mining case: Will have to tell CBI details of our alliance with Mayawati, says Akhilesh on raids

The CBI is likely to examine former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in connection with a case of illegal sand mining, officials said Saturday.&nbsp;

They said Yadav was holding additional charge of the mining department between 2012 and June 2013.

Another former minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, who held the portfolio of the mining department, is also likely to be summoned by the CBI in the case, they said.

The CBI is likely to examine former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in connection with a case of illegal sand mining, officials said Saturday. They said Yadav was holding additional charge of the mining department between 2012 and June 2013.

The CBI is likely to examine former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav in connection with a case of illegal sand mining, officials said Saturday. They said Yadav was holding additional charge of the mining department between 2012 and June 2013. Another former minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, who held the portfolio of the mining department, is also likely to be summoned by the CBI in the case, they said.

Setback for Akhilesh Yadav; CBI to examine ex-Uttar Pradesh CM in illegal sand mining case

Rebel SP leader Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), has said he was willing to join hands with the Congress to defeat the BJP in the coming <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2019-lok-sabha-elections-instagram-a-new-game-changer-to-woo-young-voters-186133">Lok Sabha elections</a>. 
 
To a question on the possibility of coalitions for the next year’s Lok Sabha polls, he said, “We have our party’s organisation in 75 districts of the state…the party has decided to contest all the seats against the BJP…to defeat the BJP, we can also enter into an alliance with the Congress”. 
 
Yadav was in Bareilly Tuesday night to take part in a programme. 
 
The estranged uncle of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stressed that all those talking about forming a morcha to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should also talk to his party which was ready to deliberate on the issue. 
 
On the controversy over Lord Hanuman, the rebel leader said, “He is a God and those who are out to confine him to a particular caste have a very narrow mindset”. 
 
Yadav also opined that Ram temple should not come upon the land which was under dispute. 
 
“Lot of lands is lying around River Saryu…if the temple is built there, I am also ready to contribute to it,” he said while asserting that the Supreme Court’s verdict in the matter should not be defied. 
 
The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up a batch of petitions for hearing in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-to-hear-ram-janmabhoomi-babri-masjid-title-dispute-case-on-january-4-186228">Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case</a> on January 4.

Rebel SP leader Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), has said he was willing to join hands with the Congress to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Rebel SP leader Shivpal Yadav, who recently floated the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), has said he was willing to join hands with the Congress to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections. To a question on the possibility of coalitions for the next year’s Lok Sabha polls, he said, “We have our party’s organisation in 75 districts of the state…the party has decided to contest all the seats against the BJP…to defeat the BJP, we can also enter into an alliance with the Congress”. Yadav was in Bareilly Tuesday night to take part in a programme. The estranged uncle of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stressed that all those talking about forming a morcha to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should also talk to his party which was ready to deliberate on the issue. On the controversy over Lord Hanuman, the rebel leader said, “He is a God and those who are out to confine him to a particular caste have a very narrow mindset”. Yadav also opined that Ram temple should not come upon the land which was under dispute. “Lot of lands is lying around River Saryu…if the temple is built there, I am also ready to contribute to it,” he said while asserting that the Supreme Court’s verdict in the matter should not be defied. The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up a batch of petitions for hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case on January 4.

Shivpal Yadav willing to join hands with Congress to defeat BJP in Lok Sabha polls

In a shot in the arm for the Congress, the Samajwadi Party Wednesday announced its support to Rahul Gandhi’s party to form the government in Madhya Pradesh. The announcement by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav came less than an hour after Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati made a similar offer to the Congress for government formation in the Hindi heartland state of Madhya Pradesh.

“The SP supports the Congress to form government in MP,” Yadav tweeted in Hindi.&nbsp;

The Congress, which was locked in a tantalising see-saw battle with the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as the single-largest party with 114 seats after the vote count ended on Wednesday morning, according to the State Election Commission Office.&nbsp;

The party is, however, two short of the simple majority mark, 116 seats, in the 230-member Assembly. The BJP was close behind with 109 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party won two seats and the Samajwadi Party one. Independents bagged four seats.

In a shot in the arm for the Congress, the Samajwadi Party Wednesday announced its support to Rahul Gandhi’s party to form the government in Madhya Pradesh. The announcement by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav came less than an hour after Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati made a similar offer to the Congress for government formation in the Hindi heartland state of Madhya Pradesh.

In a shot in the arm for the Congress, the Samajwadi Party Wednesday announced its support to Rahul Gandhi’s party to form the government in Madhya Pradesh. The announcement by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav came less than an hour after Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati made a similar offer to the Congress for government formation in the Hindi heartland state of Madhya Pradesh. “The SP supports the Congress to form government in MP,” Yadav tweeted in Hindi. The Congress, which was locked in a tantalising see-saw battle with the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, has emerged as the single-largest party with 114 seats after the vote count ended on Wednesday morning, according to the State Election Commission Office. The party is, however, two short of the simple majority mark, 116 seats, in the 230-member Assembly. The BJP was close behind with 109 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party won two seats and the Samajwadi Party one. Independents bagged four seats.

After BSP, Samajwadi Party offers support to Congress in Madhya Pradesh

The BSP and SP chiefs Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have said they <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/it-is-time-for-change-rahul-gandhi-after-poll-results-183326">will help the Congress form governments</a> in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.&nbsp;

"To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies," said Mayawati.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies,"says Mayawati, BSP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssemblyElections2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AssemblyElections2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/1gr6RFRZHO">pic.twitter.com/1gr6RFRZHO</a>
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"We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred and deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections," said Akhilesh.&nbsp;

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Akhilesh Yadav, former UP CM: We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred&amp;deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections. <a href="https://t.co/OzFGshIwBd">pic.twitter.com/OzFGshIwBd</a>
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The Congress won 114 seats in Madhya Pradesh, two short of the halfway mark. The BSP won two, and the SP one.&nbsp;

The Congress won 99 seats in Rajasthan, one short of the majority mark. The BSP won 6.&nbsp;

Late on Tuesday evening, as the results seemed to show the Congress would fall just short of the majority mark in MP and Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said his party had reached out to the two UP leaders.&nbsp;

The BSP and SP chiefs Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have said they will help the Congress form governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies," said Mayawati.

The BSP and SP chiefs Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have said they will help the Congress form governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies," said Mayawati. #WATCH: "To keep BJP out of power we have agreed to support Congress in Madhya Pradesh and if need be in Rajasthan, even though we don't agree with many of their policies,"says Mayawati, BSP #AssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/1gr6RFRZHO — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2018 × "We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred and deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections," said Akhilesh. Akhilesh Yadav, former UP CM: We welcome the mandate. We didn't perform well but we would like to thank the public of Madhya Pradesh for supporting us. We have decided to support Congress in MP. BJP has spread hatred&deceived public, they will be given an answer in LS elections. pic.twitter.com/OzFGshIwBd — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 12, 2018 × The Congress won 114 seats in Madhya Pradesh, two short of the halfway mark. The BSP won two, and the SP one. The Congress won 99 seats in Rajasthan, one short of the majority mark. The BSP won 6. Late on Tuesday evening, as the results seemed to show the Congress would fall just short of the majority mark in MP and Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had said his party had reached out to the two UP leaders.

Mayawati says will support Congress in MP & Rajasthan, Akhilesh says he will in former

In a ground-breaking statement, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday urged the Supreme Court to take note of the situation in Ayodhya and call the Army, if needed, to keep it under control.

Talking to reporters, Yadav said: "The BJP does not believe in either the Supreme Court or the Constitution. The BJP can go to any extent. The kind of environment there is in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court should take notice of it and bring Army, if necessary."

The statement comes ahead of a mass gathering by organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and some Hindu activists and saints in Ayodhya over the weekend to build up pressure on the central government for a Ram temple at the site of the razed Babri mosque.

The mega show will coincide with a two-day visit of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to Ayodhya.

His statement comes following the increased demand for an early court decision on the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Certain sections are also pushing for an ordinance to hasten the construction process.

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut implied that it would not take long to bring an ordinance for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya when it took only 17 minutes for the Ram bhakts (devotees) to demolish Babri Masjid.

Even BJP MLA Surendra Singh reportedly stirred up a controversy when he warned that 1992 could be repeated in Ayodhya, if required, during a "Dharam Sabha" to be held November 25.

A big push for the temple construction came on Tuesday when a litigant Mohammad Iqbal Ansari, in the Babri Masjid case, said that he does not have any objection to an ordinance for Ram temple construction.

On October 29, the Supreme Court adjourned the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019 to fix the next hearing date in the matter, challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010.

The Allahabad High Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested a division of the disputed land in Ayodhya - one for each of the parties the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla.

It is believed that the Babri Masjid which was constructed by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528 was allegedly demolished by Hindu activists on December 6, 1992, who claimed that the mosque was built after destructing the Ram Temple to the ground.&nbsp;

In a ground-breaking statement, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday urged the Supreme Court to take note of the situation in Ayodhya and call the Army, if needed, to keep it under control.

In a ground-breaking statement, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday urged the Supreme Court to take note of the situation in Ayodhya and call the Army, if needed, to keep it under control. Talking to reporters, Yadav said: "The BJP does not believe in either the Supreme Court or the Constitution. The BJP can go to any extent. The kind of environment there is in Uttar Pradesh, especially in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court should take notice of it and bring Army, if necessary." The statement comes ahead of a mass gathering by organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and some Hindu activists and saints in Ayodhya over the weekend to build up pressure on the central government for a Ram temple at the site of the razed Babri mosque. The mega show will coincide with a two-day visit of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to Ayodhya. His statement comes following the increased demand for an early court decision on the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Certain sections are also pushing for an ordinance to hasten the construction process. Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut implied that it would not take long to bring an ordinance for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya when it took only 17 minutes for the Ram bhakts (devotees) to demolish Babri Masjid. Even BJP MLA Surendra Singh reportedly stirred up a controversy when he warned that 1992 could be repeated in Ayodhya, if required, during a "Dharam Sabha" to be held November 25. A big push for the temple construction came on Tuesday when a litigant Mohammad Iqbal Ansari, in the Babri Masjid case, said that he does not have any objection to an ordinance for Ram temple construction. On October 29, the Supreme Court adjourned the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019 to fix the next hearing date in the matter, challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010. The Allahabad High Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested a division of the disputed land in Ayodhya - one for each of the parties the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla. It is believed that the Babri Masjid which was constructed by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528 was allegedly demolished by Hindu activists on December 6, 1992, who claimed that the mosque was built after destructing the Ram Temple to the ground.

Supreme Court should send Army to Ayodhya if necessary: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said he has no prime ministerial ambitions and would rather work for upliftment of his state Uttar Pradesh.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister was speaking at a panel discussion here, which included BJP leader Ram Madhav, National Conference's Omar Abdullah, Sachin Pilot of the Congress and Jayant Choudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, at the release of a book by journalist-author Priya Sahgal, titled 'Contenders Who Will Lead India Tomorrow'.

As the discussion turned towards 'Mahagathbandhan' or the grand alliance that opposition parties are trying to forge to take on the ruling BJP at the Centre ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year, moderator Vir Sanghvi asked how such an alliance will work when all opposition leaders have prime ministerial ambitions.

To this, Yadav replied he does not have any such aspirations.

Answering a pointed 'no' from Sanghvi, Yadav replied, "No". When the moderator asked ''never", the Samajwadi leader said, "Never".

Yadav said he would rather work to improve conditions of his state and cited examples of the development work done during his tenure as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.&nbsp;

Yadav, who was UP's chief minister from 2012 to 2017, talked about the work done for the Gomti river as also on the Agra Expressway, saying aircraft like Sukhoi, Mirage and Hercules landed on that expressway, which was proof of the good work that was done there.

"Now, you can land your Rafale also," Yadav said tongue-in-cheek looking at the BJP's Madhav.

Yadav's statement that he had no prime ministerial ambitions was also seen as being directed towards Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, apparently as a bid to placate her ambition of the prime ministerial role.

Congress leader Pilot said one should not start his life with an ambition to become the prime minister as several events play a role in shaping a political career and nothing was any way permanent in politics.

While Yadav had talked about not being interested in prime ministerial role in February last year also, his statement now assumes significance in the wake of intensified efforts by various opposition parties to forge an anti-BJP alliance to give a strong fight to the ruling party.

However, there have already been some cracks visible in the opposition unity, even before a grand alliance gets formed, with BSP and some other parties going separate ways in some states such as Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, including due to their differences with the Congress, the main opposition party.

Trying to reach out to various non-BJP parties, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, even as he called his party's alliance with the Congress a "democratic compulsion" to protect the country.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said he has no prime ministerial ambitions and would rather work for upliftment of his state Uttar Pradesh. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister was speaking at a panel discussion here, which included BJP leader Ram Madhav, National Conference's Omar Abdullah, Sachin Pilot of the Congress and Jayant Choudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, at the release of a book by journalist-author Priya Sahgal, titled 'Contenders Who Will Lead India Tomorrow'.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said he has no prime ministerial ambitions and would rather work for upliftment of his state Uttar Pradesh. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister was speaking at a panel discussion here, which included BJP leader Ram Madhav, National Conference's Omar Abdullah, Sachin Pilot of the Congress and Jayant Choudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, at the release of a book by journalist-author Priya Sahgal, titled 'Contenders Who Will Lead India Tomorrow'. As the discussion turned towards 'Mahagathbandhan' or the grand alliance that opposition parties are trying to forge to take on the ruling BJP at the Centre ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year, moderator Vir Sanghvi asked how such an alliance will work when all opposition leaders have prime ministerial ambitions. To this, Yadav replied he does not have any such aspirations. Answering a pointed 'no' from Sanghvi, Yadav replied, "No". When the moderator asked ''never", the Samajwadi leader said, "Never". Yadav said he would rather work to improve conditions of his state and cited examples of the development work done during his tenure as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Yadav, who was UP's chief minister from 2012 to 2017, talked about the work done for the Gomti river as also on the Agra Expressway, saying aircraft like Sukhoi, Mirage and Hercules landed on that expressway, which was proof of the good work that was done there. "Now, you can land your Rafale also," Yadav said tongue-in-cheek looking at the BJP's Madhav. Yadav's statement that he had no prime ministerial ambitions was also seen as being directed towards Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, apparently as a bid to placate her ambition of the prime ministerial role. Congress leader Pilot said one should not start his life with an ambition to become the prime minister as several events play a role in shaping a political career and nothing was any way permanent in politics. While Yadav had talked about not being interested in prime ministerial role in February last year also, his statement now assumes significance in the wake of intensified efforts by various opposition parties to forge an anti-BJP alliance to give a strong fight to the ruling party. However, there have already been some cracks visible in the opposition unity, even before a grand alliance gets formed, with BSP and some other parties going separate ways in some states such as Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, including due to their differences with the Congress, the main opposition party. Trying to reach out to various non-BJP parties, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, even as he called his party's alliance with the Congress a "democratic compulsion" to protect the country.

Have no prime ministerial ambitions, would rather work for UP: Akhilesh Yadav

Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said Tuesday the BSP and the Samajwadi Party would be part of the grand alliance of opposition parties against the BJP-led NDA in the next year's Lok Sabha polls.

He also claimed the Congress will win at least four of the five states where assembly elections will be held over the next two months.

The former union minister's statement followed Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's comment last week that his party would not wait for the Congress to decide on an alliance for the Madhya Pradesh elections any longer, hinting that he could go for a tie-up with Mayawati's BSP.

The SP's snub to the Congress came days after Mayawati ruled out a poll pact with the main opposition party for assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking to PTI, Moily said the proposed grand alliance was meant for Lok Sabha elections and not the state assemblies.

In state elections, parties have their own compulsions, he said.

"Our main ambition is to see that in parliamentary elections the opposition is united and we are likely to achieve that target," Moily said, exuding confidence that both the BSP and SP would be constituents of the grand alliance for the Lok Sabha polls.

Moily, a former Karnataka chief minister, claimed that votes would get polarised between the Congress and the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assembly elections.

Moily said the Congress would win the Rajasthan elections and have an edge over the BJP in Madhya Pradesh.

"In Chhattisgarh, it's 50:50. There, it (the result) depends on our (poll) management...Selection of candidates," he said. "We are going to win in Mizoram," he asserted.

Moily also claimed that the Congress would bag Telangana in alliance with the TDP, CPI and other opposition parties.

"Chances are that out of the five states going to polls--Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana--the Congress is going to win at least four," he said.

On the prime ministerial candidate of the grand alliance, he said the issue might not arise because no party in the proposed grouping would insist on that.

"Ultimately, we will have to fight on the issue that we should defeat BJP and communal forces, that's the only issue. Leadership... Who should become prime minister, will be taken up at an appropriate time. That should not block the opposition unity," Moily said.

Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said Tuesday the BSP and the Samajwadi Party would be part of the grand alliance of opposition parties against the BJP-led NDA in the next year's Lok Sabha polls.

Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily said Tuesday the BSP and the Samajwadi Party would be part of the grand alliance of opposition parties against the BJP-led NDA in the next year's Lok Sabha polls. He also claimed the Congress will win at least four of the five states where assembly elections will be held over the next two months. The former union minister's statement followed Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's comment last week that his party would not wait for the Congress to decide on an alliance for the Madhya Pradesh elections any longer, hinting that he could go for a tie-up with Mayawati's BSP. The SP's snub to the Congress came days after Mayawati ruled out a poll pact with the main opposition party for assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Speaking to PTI, Moily said the proposed grand alliance was meant for Lok Sabha elections and not the state assemblies. In state elections, parties have their own compulsions, he said. "Our main ambition is to see that in parliamentary elections the opposition is united and we are likely to achieve that target," Moily said, exuding confidence that both the BSP and SP would be constituents of the grand alliance for the Lok Sabha polls. Moily, a former Karnataka chief minister, claimed that votes would get polarised between the Congress and the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Moily said the Congress would win the Rajasthan elections and have an edge over the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. "In Chhattisgarh, it's 50:50. There, it (the result) depends on our (poll) management...Selection of candidates," he said. "We are going to win in Mizoram," he asserted. Moily also claimed that the Congress would bag Telangana in alliance with the TDP, CPI and other opposition parties. "Chances are that out of the five states going to polls--Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana--the Congress is going to win at least four," he said. On the prime ministerial candidate of the grand alliance, he said the issue might not arise because no party in the proposed grouping would insist on that. "Ultimately, we will have to fight on the issue that we should defeat BJP and communal forces, that's the only issue. Leadership... Who should become prime minister, will be taken up at an appropriate time. That should not block the opposition unity," Moily said.

Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati will be in grand alliance for Lok Sabha poll: Congress leader Moily

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that he would speak with the BSP about a possible tie-up for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections.&nbsp;

"Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with the BSP," ANI quoted Akhilesh as saying.&nbsp;

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Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with BSP : Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav on possible alliance with BSP for upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh <a href="https://t.co/wFLgQoaO67">pic.twitter.com/wFLgQoaO67</a>
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Mayawati had recently announced that she would not be partnering with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh.

The state — along with Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram — is expected to go to the polls before December this year.&nbsp;

Mayawati had also snubbed the Congress in Chhattisgarh where she has tied up with Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh.&nbsp;

Mayawati's, and now Akhilesh's announcements have been a setback for opposition unity before the 2019 general elections — which is the final goal.&nbsp;The opposition seems to believe the only way to take on the BJP in 2019 is by coming together and fielding only one opposition candidate in every seat against the ruling party.&nbsp;

That would make certain that the opposition vote is not split.&nbsp;The opposition has had some success with the strategy so far like in the Kairana (UP) Lok Sabha byelection in May this year.&nbsp;

But for now, Mayawati and perhaps Akhilesh have only said no to tie-ups for the assembly elections.&nbsp;

It remains to be seen what they will decide for the 2019 general election.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that he would speak with the BSP about a possible tie-up for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections. "Congress has made us wait for long.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Saturday that he would speak with the BSP about a possible tie-up for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh elections. "Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with the BSP," ANI quoted Akhilesh as saying. Congress has made us wait for long. We will hold talks with BSP : Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav on possible alliance with BSP for upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh pic.twitter.com/wFLgQoaO67 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 6, 2018 × Mayawati had recently announced that she would not be partnering with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. The state — along with Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram — is expected to go to the polls before December this year. Mayawati had also snubbed the Congress in Chhattisgarh where she has tied up with Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh. Mayawati's, and now Akhilesh's announcements have been a setback for opposition unity before the 2019 general elections — which is the final goal. The opposition seems to believe the only way to take on the BJP in 2019 is by coming together and fielding only one opposition candidate in every seat against the ruling party. That would make certain that the opposition vote is not split. The opposition has had some success with the strategy so far like in the Kairana (UP) Lok Sabha byelection in May this year. But for now, Mayawati and perhaps Akhilesh have only said no to tie-ups for the assembly elections. It remains to be seen what they will decide for the 2019 general election.

Cong has made us wait for long, will hold talks with BSP on alliance in MP: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Saturday demanded the resignation of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the death of a multi-national company executive in police shooting in Lucknow.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also sought a judicial inquiry in the case.

"What else can we expect from UP's BJP government? Numerous fake encounters are taking place in the state," Yadav told mediapersons at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh.

If the family members demand, a sitting judge should conduct an inquiry into the Lucknow incident, he said. "Uttar Pradesh cannot be saved from fake encounters until inquiry of such incidents is conducted by a sitting judge."

"The Yogi Adityanath government should resign as it is responsible for this incident," he said.

Vivek Tiwari (38) was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar area.&nbsp;

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Saturday demanded the resignation of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the death of a multi-national company executive in police shooting in Lucknow.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Saturday demanded the resignation of the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the death of a multi-national company executive in police shooting in Lucknow. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also sought a judicial inquiry in the case. "What else can we expect from UP's BJP government? Numerous fake encounters are taking place in the state," Yadav told mediapersons at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. If the family members demand, a sitting judge should conduct an inquiry into the Lucknow incident, he said. "Uttar Pradesh cannot be saved from fake encounters until inquiry of such incidents is conducted by a sitting judge." "The Yogi Adityanath government should resign as it is responsible for this incident," he said. Vivek Tiwari (38) was shot dead early Saturday morning by a policeman when he allegedly refused to stop his car for checking in Lucknow's posh Gomti Nagar area.

Akhilesh seeks resignation of UP government over Apple employee shooting

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday questioned former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, why he damaged the walls of the official bungalow allotted to him when he was in power.

Briefing media here, state health minister Siddharth Nath Singh said, "I would like to tell Akhilesh that you're a respected leader and former chief minister, but besides that, you're also well-educated. When you demolish the walls of the house where you yourself lived, what was hidden behind the wall that you had to break it down?"

He added that the Income Tax Department could ask Akhilesh to furnish proof of his income, even though the SP chief said that he did renovate the government bungalow under his own expenses.

Calling Akhilesh as "the guilty chief scolding the police officer", Singh further said, "He said he renovated bungalow with his own money. Income Tax Department should see if the calculations are fine, even better if he himself submits how did he use money and where did he get money from."

Further, he lambasted Akhilesh's repeated claims that the BJP was taking credit for the development projects initiated by the previous SP government in the state, saying they "only cut ribbons" and did not spend "single money".

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh denied charges of damaging the government bungalow he was staying in and accused the BJP-led state government of putting "false allegations" on him.

While addressing the media here, Akhilesh said the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government is unable to digest the Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypoll defeat and thus is getting antsy out of "frustration".

Yadav claimed he removed no furnishings from the government bungalow, where he was staying since demitting the CM's office last year.

"Wooden flooring along with many things in the bungalow are intact. One damaged corner of the house was photographed in a way to make it look like the house was left in a bad state. I gave laptops to children, but Yogi Adityanath government is insulting me over taps," he clarified.

Further slamming the BJP, Akhilesh said the government "didn't acknowledge the Metro work done by my government".

"My government built world-class infrastructure in the state," he added.

On June 2, Akhilesh vacated his official residence and shifted at the Ansal API Township on Sultanpur road in Lucknow.

According to reports, he has allegedly taken away imported tiles, ceiling, AC, garden lights and bathroom fittings among others from the bungalow.

However, SP leader Sunil Yadav refuted the allegation and said Adityanath was the one who had ordered the removal of various things from the property after Akhilesh vacated the property. 
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Tuesday wrote to Adityanath over the issue of damages found at the government bungalow.

Terming it a serious matter, Naik noted that such buildings are maintained using taxpayers' money and hence appropriate action must be taken against those at fault.

Earlier this week, the state government ordered a probe into the damages done after the bungalow was vacated.

The apex court on May 7 passed an order to abolish a law that allowed former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh to stay in government bungalows throughout their lives

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh denied charges of damaging the government bungalow he was staying in and accused the BJP-led state government of putting 'false allegations' on him

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday questioned former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, why he damaged the walls of the official bungalow allotted to him when he was in power. Briefing media here, state health minister Siddharth Nath Singh said, "I would like to tell Akhilesh that you're a respected leader and former chief minister, but besides that, you're also well-educated. When you demolish the walls of the house where you yourself lived, what was hidden behind the wall that you had to break it down?" He added that the Income Tax Department could ask Akhilesh to furnish proof of his income, even though the SP chief said that he did renovate the government bungalow under his own expenses. Calling Akhilesh as "the guilty chief scolding the police officer", Singh further said, "He said he renovated bungalow with his own money. Income Tax Department should see if the calculations are fine, even better if he himself submits how did he use money and where did he get money from." Further, he lambasted Akhilesh's repeated claims that the BJP was taking credit for the development projects initiated by the previous SP government in the state, saying they "only cut ribbons" and did not spend "single money". Earlier in the day, Akhilesh denied charges of damaging the government bungalow he was staying in and accused the BJP-led state government of putting "false allegations" on him. While addressing the media here, Akhilesh said the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government is unable to digest the Gorakhpur and Phulpur bypoll defeat and thus is getting antsy out of "frustration". Yadav claimed he removed no furnishings from the government bungalow, where he was staying since demitting the CM's office last year. "Wooden flooring along with many things in the bungalow are intact. One damaged corner of the house was photographed in a way to make it look like the house was left in a bad state. I gave laptops to children, but Yogi Adityanath government is insulting me over taps," he clarified. Further slamming the BJP, Akhilesh said the government "didn't acknowledge the Metro work done by my government". "My government built world-class infrastructure in the state," he added. On June 2, Akhilesh vacated his official residence and shifted at the Ansal API Township on Sultanpur road in Lucknow. According to reports, he has allegedly taken away imported tiles, ceiling, AC, garden lights and bathroom fittings among others from the bungalow. However, SP leader Sunil Yadav refuted the allegation and said Adityanath was the one who had ordered the removal of various things from the property after Akhilesh vacated the property. Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Tuesday wrote to Adityanath over the issue of damages found at the government bungalow. Terming it a serious matter, Naik noted that such buildings are maintained using taxpayers' money and hence appropriate action must be taken against those at fault. Earlier this week, the state government ordered a probe into the damages done after the bungalow was vacated. The apex court on May 7 passed an order to abolish a law that allowed former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh to stay in government bungalows throughout their lives

Akhilesh-bungalow row: What was hidden behind the walls you broke, asks BJP

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over the bungalow furniture loot charge against him.

He claimed that the bungalow loot charges against him were motivated.

He also questioned as to why no inventory check was done when he was vacating the state residence.

Yadav fumed over the loot row and claimed the allegations baseless, saying he did not loot any furnishings from the government bungalow.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, he showed to media that he took with him the costly water- taps of jaguar company with him as they belonged to him.&nbsp;

Yadav carried taps along with him to the press conference, saying he took them as they belonged to him.

He said that the UP government is free to take those taps back if they want to.

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Main toti (faucet) lekar aya hun. Agar sarkar ko yeh lage ki koi toti main lekar chala gaya hun, sarkaar ginti bata de, main poore ki poori toti dene ke liye tayaar hun: Akhilesh Yadav <a href="https://t.co/XgV3BRYGKM">pic.twitter.com/XgV3BRYGKM</a>
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Wooden flooring along with many things in bungalow are intact. One damaged corner of house was photographed in way to make it look like house was left in a bad state. Log pyaar mein andhe hote honge par jalan aur nafrat mein andhe hote hain yeh meine dekha hai: Akhilesh Yadav <a href="https://t.co/3ASvIIDpaJ">pic.twitter.com/3ASvIIDpaJ</a>
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The BJP is expected to respond to Yadav's claims at 2 pm today.

He also remarked that he left the bungalow intact and that a damaged corner of the bungalow was photographed in a way to make it look like the house was left in a bad state.

On pictures claiming damage to the swimming pool, Yadav said that there was "no swimming pool" in his bungalow.

Yadav carried taps along with him to the press conference, saying he took them as they belonged to him.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over the bungalow furniture loot charge against him. He claimed that the bungalow loot charges against him were motivated. He also questioned as to why no inventory check was done when he was vacating the state residence. Yadav fumed over the loot row and claimed the allegations baseless, saying he did not loot any furnishings from the government bungalow. Meanwhile, he showed to media that he took with him the costly water- taps of jaguar company with him as they belonged to him. Yadav carried taps along with him to the press conference, saying he took them as they belonged to him. He said that the UP government is free to take those taps back if they want to. Main toti (faucet) lekar aya hun. Agar sarkar ko yeh lage ki koi toti main lekar chala gaya hun, sarkaar ginti bata de, main poore ki poori toti dene ke liye tayaar hun: Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/XgV3BRYGKM — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 13, 2018 × Wooden flooring along with many things in bungalow are intact. One damaged corner of house was photographed in way to make it look like house was left in a bad state. Log pyaar mein andhe hote honge par jalan aur nafrat mein andhe hote hain yeh meine dekha hai: Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/3ASvIIDpaJ — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 13, 2018 × The BJP is expected to respond to Yadav's claims at 2 pm today. He also remarked that he left the bungalow intact and that a damaged corner of the bungalow was photographed in a way to make it look like the house was left in a bad state. On pictures claiming damage to the swimming pool, Yadav said that there was "no swimming pool" in his bungalow.

Didn't steal from my bungalow, says Akhilesh; shows taps as proof

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has said that he was ready to sacrifice his party's seats&nbsp;to continue alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party.

He said their motive was to win elections against BJP and defeat them.

Yadav said,"Our alliance with BSP will continue, in 2019 even if we have to give up a few seats we will do it. We have to ensure BJP is defeated."

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Yadav's remake has come after BSP chief Mayawati said in a national executive meet last month that she would come in alliance with other parties only after her party gets" a respectable number of seats", a media reported.

While Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya said that the alliance between "Bua and Babua" (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) will finish off before the 2019 elections.

He said that because the coalition between Mayawati and Akhilesh was an issue-less alliance, the two will finish off with fighting among themselves.

Maurya said, "Bua and Babua (Mayawati & Akhilesh Yadav) will finish off with fighting among themselves. This isn't an alliance based on issues. An issue-less alliance never works. They will finish off before the election (2019) comes".

Akhilesh Yadav was on his visit to Manipur to unveil the statue of a former pradhan in Jauri village.

The BSP-SP alliance recently rooted out BJP from Gorakhpur, Kairana, Noorpur and Phulpur seats in the&nbsp;bypolls.

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Our alliance with BSP will continue, in 2019 even if we have to give up a few seats we will do it. We have to ensure BJP is defeated: Akhilesh Yadav,SP <a href="https://t.co/5vq4AA9frs">pic.twitter.com/5vq4AA9frs</a>
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&nbsp;

Yadav said,'Our alliance with BSP will continue, in 2019 even if we have to give up a few seats we will do it. We have to ensure BJP is defeated'

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has said that he was ready to sacrifice his party's seats to continue alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party. He said their motive was to win elections against BJP and defeat them. Yadav said,"Our alliance with BSP will continue, in 2019 even if we have to give up a few seats we will do it. We have to ensure BJP is defeated." × Yadav's remake has come after BSP chief Mayawati said in a national executive meet last month that she would come in alliance with other parties only after her party gets" a respectable number of seats", a media reported. While Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya said that the alliance between "Bua and Babua" (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) will finish off before the 2019 elections. He said that because the coalition between Mayawati and Akhilesh was an issue-less alliance, the two will finish off with fighting among themselves. Maurya said, "Bua and Babua (Mayawati & Akhilesh Yadav) will finish off with fighting among themselves. This isn't an alliance based on issues. An issue-less alliance never works. They will finish off before the election (2019) comes". Akhilesh Yadav was on his visit to Manipur to unveil the statue of a former pradhan in Jauri village. The BSP-SP alliance recently rooted out BJP from Gorakhpur, Kairana, Noorpur and Phulpur seats in the bypolls. Our alliance with BSP will continue, in 2019 even if we have to give up a few seats we will do it. We have to ensure BJP is defeated: Akhilesh Yadav,SP pic.twitter.com/5vq4AA9frs — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 11, 2018 ×

Ready to sacrifice our own seats to continue alliance with BSP: Akhilesh Yadav

After Akhilesh Yadav vacated the government bungalow in Uttar Pradesh, SP leader Sunil Yadav has claimed that the damages inside the premise was ordered by CM Yogi Adityanath.

He said the chief minister took the step to malign the image of Akhilesh Yadav.

"After handing over keys of the govt bungalow, the damages inside the premises was ordered by CM Yogi Adityanath himself. This was done just to malign Akhilesh Yadav's image in public because CM is frustrated after losing a series of by polls", Sunil Yadav said.

While UP MInister Swatantra Dev Singh has asked for an investigation into the matter.

Singh said "Removing of ACs & tiles should not have been done because these are govt property. He has violated SC order. Investigation needed."

SP chief and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh vacated the government bungalow in Uttar Pradesh after the orders of Supreme Court.

The bungalow left by the Yadav was found in a distorted state with damaged floor tiles and laminations, missing electrical switchboards.

In his order last month, the Supreme Court had ordered former chief ministers of the Uttar Pradesh to leave the government accommodation.

After the apex court's order, the state government had issued a notice to six former chief ministers of the state- Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Rajnath Singh and Akhilesh Yadav.&nbsp;

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Visuals from govt bungalow which was recently vacated by ex-UP CM Akhilesh Yadav in compliance with SC's order. UP Minister Swatantra Dev Singh says,"Removing of ACs & tiles shouldn't have been done because these are govt property. He has violated SC order. Investigation needed." <a href="https://t.co/TowuXMzZWk">pic.twitter.com/TowuXMzZWk</a>
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&nbsp;

He said the chief minister took the step to malign the image of Akhilesh Yadav

After Akhilesh Yadav vacated the government bungalow in Uttar Pradesh, SP leader Sunil Yadav has claimed that the damages inside the premise was ordered by CM Yogi Adityanath. He said the chief minister took the step to malign the image of Akhilesh Yadav. "After handing over keys of the govt bungalow, the damages inside the premises was ordered by CM Yogi Adityanath himself. This was done just to malign Akhilesh Yadav's image in public because CM is frustrated after losing a series of by polls", Sunil Yadav said. While UP MInister Swatantra Dev Singh has asked for an investigation into the matter. Singh said "Removing of ACs & tiles should not have been done because these are govt property. He has violated SC order. Investigation needed." SP chief and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh vacated the government bungalow in Uttar Pradesh after the orders of Supreme Court. The bungalow left by the Yadav was found in a distorted state with damaged floor tiles and laminations, missing electrical switchboards. In his order last month, the Supreme Court had ordered former chief ministers of the Uttar Pradesh to leave the government accommodation. After the apex court's order, the state government had issued a notice to six former chief ministers of the state- Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Rajnath Singh and Akhilesh Yadav. Visuals from govt bungalow which was recently vacated by ex-UP CM Akhilesh Yadav in compliance with SC's order. UP Minister Swatantra Dev Singh says,"Removing of ACs & tiles shouldn't have been done because these are govt property. He has violated SC order. Investigation needed." pic.twitter.com/TowuXMzZWk — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 10, 2018 ×

SP leader Sunil Yadav blames Yogi Adityanath for damages in govt bungalow vacated by Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav today said there was no decision on seat sharing between his party and the BSP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and that it would be discussed at an "appropriate time".

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister's remark come amid reports that the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is demanding 40 out of the total 80 seats in the state for the next year general elections.

"Whatever seats are to be given will be decided once talks proceed. We will discuss at the appropriate time. Whatever is being reported regarding seats is only in newspapers," the SP chief said.&nbsp

"We have not discussed anything. We 'samajwadis' (socialists) have a big heart," he told PTI in an interview, his first after the Kairana bypolls in which the joint opposition candidate trounced the BJP's nominee, snatching the seat from the ruling party in the state.

RLD's Tabassum Hasan polled 4,81,182 votes in the bypoll, while BJP's Mriganka Singh got 4,36,564 votes, a difference of 44,618 votes.

The SP chief also alleged that "the (communal) fire in which Kairana burnt was doused by the people there by voting against the BJP".

On assembly polls in other states, Yadav said, "The SP will contest all the seats in Madhya Pradesh and is also preparing for polls in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand."

Regarding possibilities of a BSP-Congress tie-up for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, he said, "I have no information about this."

"If they are talking (for an alliance in MP) it's good. We hope for the best and prepare for the worst in politics," Yadav said.

He said as far as the SP is concerned, the party has decided to contest all the 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh and preparations are underway.

The SP chief also said that the party&nbspwas prepared for the 2019 polls and the process was on for selecting prospective candidates.

Attacking the BJP, he alleged that the party distracted people from "core issues" before an election.

Discussing the success of alliance in the Gorakhpur, Phulpur, Kairana and Noorpur Lok Sabha bypolls, Yadav said, "The anger of people is visible from these results."

"The results also show that people are looking at an alternative against the BJP, which believes more in talking and less in working," he said.

He termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on May 27 near Kairana an attempt to influence the by-election.

"Despite all out attempts, the BJP failed to succeed in Kairana and Noorpur. It's defeat of the divisive politics played by them. People have given a befitting reply to the BJP in the bypolls," he said.

Terming the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as "crucial", he said he expects that the general elections will be held early and simultaneously with assembly polls of some states.

He said as far as the SP is concerned, the party has decided to contest all the 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav today said there was no decision on seat sharing between his party and the BSP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and that it would be discussed at an "appropriate time". The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister's remark come amid reports that the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is demanding 40 out of the total 80 seats in the state for the next year general elections. "Whatever seats are to be given will be decided once talks proceed. We will discuss at the appropriate time. Whatever is being reported regarding seats is only in newspapers," the SP chief said. "We have not discussed anything. We 'samajwadis' (socialists) have a big heart," he told PTI in an interview, his first after the Kairana bypolls in which the joint opposition candidate trounced the BJP's nominee, snatching the seat from the ruling party in the state. RLD's Tabassum Hasan polled 4,81,182 votes in the bypoll, while BJP's Mriganka Singh got 4,36,564 votes, a difference of 44,618 votes. The SP chief also alleged that "the (communal) fire in which Kairana burnt was doused by the people there by voting against the BJP". On assembly polls in other states, Yadav said, "The SP will contest all the seats in Madhya Pradesh and is also preparing for polls in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand." Regarding possibilities of a BSP-Congress tie-up for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, he said, "I have no information about this." "If they are talking (for an alliance in MP) it's good. We hope for the best and prepare for the worst in politics," Yadav said. He said as far as the SP is concerned, the party has decided to contest all the 230 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh and preparations are underway. The SP chief also said that the party&nbspwas prepared for the 2019 polls and the process was on for selecting prospective candidates. Attacking the BJP, he alleged that the party distracted people from "core issues" before an election. Discussing the success of alliance in the Gorakhpur, Phulpur, Kairana and Noorpur Lok Sabha bypolls, Yadav said, "The anger of people is visible from these results." "The results also show that people are looking at an alternative against the BJP, which believes more in talking and less in working," he said. He termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on May 27 near Kairana an attempt to influence the by-election. "Despite all out attempts, the BJP failed to succeed in Kairana and Noorpur. It's defeat of the divisive politics played by them. People have given a befitting reply to the BJP in the bypolls," he said. Terming the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as "crucial", he said he expects that the general elections will be held early and simultaneously with assembly polls of some states.

Seat sharing talks at right time, we have a big heart: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav today vacated their official residences (government bungalows) in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court.

The father-son duo - both former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh - had moved Supreme Court seeking "appropriate time" for vacating their official residences allocated by the Uttar Pradesh government.

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Former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav vacate their official residences in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court. <a href="https://t.co/krbv3nTseM">pic.twitter.com/krbv3nTseM</a>
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&nbsp

Their plea was filed in the backdrop of the May 7 judgement of the Supreme Court that had struck down an amendment in a state legislation allowing former chief ministers to retain government accommodation even after demitting office.

The two leaders had sought two years' time from UP government to vacate their official residences and shifting to their private accommodations in Lucknow.

The top court had on May 7 held that former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh cannot retain government accommodation after demitting office and had said that a chief minister was at par with a common man once his or her term ends.

The court, in its 29-page order, had said once such persons demit public office held by them, there is nothing to distinguish them from the common man.

The two leaders had sought two years' time from UP government to vacate their official residences and shifting to their private accommodations in Lucknow.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav today vacated their official residences (government bungalows) in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court. The father-son duo - both former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh - had moved Supreme Court seeking "appropriate time" for vacating their official residences allocated by the Uttar Pradesh government. Former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav vacate their official residences in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/krbv3nTseM — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 31, 2018 × Their plea was filed in the backdrop of the May 7 judgement of the Supreme Court that had struck down an amendment in a state legislation allowing former chief ministers to retain government accommodation even after demitting office. The two leaders had sought two years' time from UP government to vacate their official residences and shifting to their private accommodations in Lucknow. The top court had on May 7 held that former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh cannot retain government accommodation after demitting office and had said that a chief minister was at par with a common man once his or her term ends. The court, in its 29-page order, had said once such persons demit public office held by them, there is nothing to distinguish them from the common man.

Akhilesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav comply with Supreme Court order, vacate government bungalows

Hours after bypolls results were declared, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on BJP saying people have given a befitting reply to the saffron party.&nbsp;

The SP president congratulated all the people who voted for his party and said&nbsp;victory of the combined opposition candidates in the Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur Assembly bypolls&nbsp;is a "befitting" reply to the BJP and those who sought to divide the country.

''This is a defeat for those who do not believe in the democracy,'' he added.

''I want to congratulate all the people who voted for us. This is a defeat for those who do not believe in the democracy. People have given a befitting reply to the BJP,'' the SP leader further said.&nbsp;

He said that people of the state have taught the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a lesson for "betraying" on all the poll promises.&nbsp; 
 
"People of the state have taught them a lesson for betraying them," Yadav said, adding, "UP government has repeatedly fooled the people. Farmers were told that their loans were waived but instead they lost their lives."&nbsp; 
 
The SP leader congratulated the voters in Noorpur and Kairana. "This is a victory for the farmers, the neglected, the poor and the Dalits." 
 
He thanked the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Ajit Singh, RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary for holding the fort against the BJP in Kairana and recalled the legacy of former Prime Minister Charan Singh. 
 
The SP leader also thanked the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Mahan Party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Nishad Party, Peace Party, Left parties and the COngress for supporting the opposition candidates in the by-polls.

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कैराना और नूरपुर की जनता, कार्यकर्ताओं, उम्मीदवारों व सभी एकजुट दलों को जीत की हार्दिक बधाई! कैराना में सत्ताधारियों की हार उनकी अपनी ही प्रयोगशाला में, देश को बाँटने वाली उनकी राजनीति की हार है. ये एकता-अमन में विश्वास करने वाली जनता की जीत व अहंकारी सत्ता के अंत की शुरूआत है.
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/yadavakhilesh/status/1002119253091373056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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I want to congratulate all the people who voted for us. This is a defeat for those who do not believe in the democracy. People have given a befitting reply to the BJP: Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party President <a href="https://t.co/RrBM0JCXqX">pic.twitter.com/RrBM0JCXqX</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1002126074334003200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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''I want to congratulate all the people who voted for us. This is a defeat for those who do not believe in the democracy. People have given a befitting reply to the BJP,'' the SP leader said.

Hours after bypolls results were declared, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on BJP saying people have given a befitting reply to the saffron party. The SP president congratulated all the people who voted for his party and said victory of the combined opposition candidates in the Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur Assembly bypolls is a "befitting" reply to the BJP and those who sought to divide the country. ''This is a defeat for those who do not believe in the democracy,'' he added. ''I want to congratulate all the people who voted for us. This is a defeat for those who do not believe in the democracy. People have given a befitting reply to the BJP,'' the SP leader further said. He said that people of the state have taught the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a lesson for "betraying" on all the poll promises. "People of the state have taught them a lesson for betraying them," Yadav said, adding, "UP government has repeatedly fooled the people. Farmers were told that their loans were waived but instead they lost their lives." The SP leader congratulated the voters in Noorpur and Kairana. "This is a victory for the farmers, the neglected, the poor and the Dalits." He thanked the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Ajit Singh, RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary for holding the fort against the BJP in Kairana and recalled the legacy of former Prime Minister Charan Singh. The SP leader also thanked the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Mahan Party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Nishad Party, Peace Party, Left parties and the COngress for supporting the opposition candidates in the by-polls. कैराना और नूरपुर की जनता, कार्यकर्ताओं, उम्मीदवारों व सभी एकजुट दलों को जीत की हार्दिक बधाई! कैराना में सत्ताधारियों की हार उनकी अपनी ही प्रयोगशाला में, देश को बाँटने वाली उनकी राजनीति की हार है. ये एकता-अमन में विश्वास करने वाली जनता की जीत व अहंकारी सत्ता के अंत की शुरूआत है. — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 31, 2018 × I want to congratulate all the people who voted for us. This is a defeat for those who do not believe in the democracy. People have given a befitting reply to the BJP: Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party President pic.twitter.com/RrBM0JCXqX — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 31, 2018 ×

Bypoll results defeat for those who do not believe in 'democracy': Akhilesh Yadav

RJD&nbsp;candidate Shahnawaz Alam defeated JD(U) candidate Murshid Alam by a huge margin of over 41,225 votes to bag the Jokihat assembly seat in bypoll. The results were declared on Thursday.

Shahnawaz Alam is the son of former RJD heavyweight Mohammad Taslimuddin and brother of Sarfaraj Alam.

It's the third victory for RJD under the leadership of Tejaswi Yadav, who took over the party after his father Lalu Yadav was convicted in fodder scam.&nbsp;

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Nation has rejected the poisonous politics of polarisation,vendetta, hatred & fascism in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BypollsVerdict?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BypollsVerdict</a> 
 
Special thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RahulGandhi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MamataOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MamataOfficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/yadavakhilesh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@yadavakhilesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MayawatiUp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MayawatiUp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jayantrld?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jayantrld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SitaramYechury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SitaramYechury</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HemantSorenJMM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HemantSorenJMM</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/RaoKavitha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RaoKavitha</a> for their magnanimous politics & vision!
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) <a href="https://twitter.com/yadavtejashwi/status/1002142966172053505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The party had earlier won Jehanabad and Aaria.

He also praised his father by saying that he showed the path to fragmented opposition to unite in their common role to dislodge ''fascist forces''.&nbsp;

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Sh <a href="https://twitter.com/laluprasadrjd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@laluprasadrjd</a> ji showed the path to fragmented opposition to unite in their common goal to dislodge fascist forces. 
 
Better late than never, opposition saw merit in his vision of consolidation and result is their to be seen against 45 parties alliance of BJP. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bypoll?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bypoll</a>
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) <a href="https://twitter.com/yadavtejashwi/status/1002131694298828801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Shahnawaz Alam is the son of former RJD heavyweight Mohammad Taslimuddin and brother of Sarfaraj Alam

RJD candidate Shahnawaz Alam defeated JD(U) candidate Murshid Alam by a huge margin of over 41,225 votes to bag the Jokihat assembly seat in bypoll. The results were declared on Thursday. Shahnawaz Alam is the son of former RJD heavyweight Mohammad Taslimuddin and brother of Sarfaraj Alam. It's the third victory for RJD under the leadership of Tejaswi Yadav, who took over the party after his father Lalu Yadav was convicted in fodder scam. Nation has rejected the poisonous politics of polarisation,vendetta, hatred & fascism in #BypollsVerdict Special thanks to @RahulGandhi @MamataOfficial @yadavakhilesh @MayawatiUp @jayantrld @SitaramYechury @HemantSorenJMM & @RaoKavitha for their magnanimous politics & vision! — Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 31, 2018 × The party had earlier won Jehanabad and Aaria. He also praised his father by saying that he showed the path to fragmented opposition to unite in their common role to dislodge ''fascist forces''. Sh @laluprasadrjd ji showed the path to fragmented opposition to unite in their common goal to dislodge fascist forces. Better late than never, opposition saw merit in his vision of consolidation and result is their to be seen against 45 parties alliance of BJP. #bypoll — Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 31, 2018 ×

Bihar: Setback for Nitish Kumar as RJD win Jokihat assembly by huge margin

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