Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed their first joint conference after an alliance between their parties for the high-stakes state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The two leaders launched the campaign with the&nbsp;tagline&nbsp;&quot;UP favours this alliance (UP ko ye saath pasand hai).&quot; The press conference was followed by a road show in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow.

Here are the highlights from their address:&nbsp;

Akhilesh Yadav and I don&#39;t just have a political relationship, but also a personal one. Our alliance will truly help Uttar Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi 
 
The alliance has made the personal and political relationship between Akhilesh and me better: Rahul Gandhi

I had said Akhilesh is a good boy, but he wasn&#39;t allowed to work: Rahul Gandhi

Campaign strategy will not be divulged: Rahul Gandhi on whether mother Sonia, Akhilesh&#39;s father Mulayam Singh would campaign&nbsp;

Priyanka (sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) has been of tremendous help to me and I have been so to her, if she campaigns or not is her choice; she is an asset to Congress: Rahul Gandhi 
 
Whether we will form an alliance in Lok Sabha or not is open to discussion: Rahul Gandhi

This is people&#39;s alliance. Rahul Gandhi and I know each other. It is a matter of happiness that we will now also work together: Akhilesh Yadav

We are like two wheels of the same cycle - one of progress and one of prosperity. Cycle and hand is a great combination: Akhilesh Yadav

If we reveal anything now,&nbsp;no suspense will remain: Akhilesh on seat-sharing in constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi&nbsp; 
 
This alliance isn&#39;t opportunistic: Akhilesh Yadav

Uttar Pradesh will&nbsp;vote for a new state assembly in a seven-phase election between February 11 and March 8. Out of the 403 assembly seats, Congress will contest 105 seats and the Samajwadi Party will field its candidates in the remaining 298 seats. 
 
(WION)

"If we reveal anything now,?no suspense will remain," said Akhilesh on seat-sharing in constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed their first joint conference after an alliance between their parties for the high-stakes state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The two leaders launched the campaign with the tagline "UP favours this alliance (UP ko ye saath pasand hai)." The press conference was followed by a road show in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow. Here are the highlights from their address: Akhilesh Yadav and I don't just have a political relationship, but also a personal one. Our alliance will truly help Uttar Pradesh: Rahul Gandhi The alliance has made the personal and political relationship between Akhilesh and me better: Rahul Gandhi I had said Akhilesh is a good boy, but he wasn't allowed to work: Rahul Gandhi Campaign strategy will not be divulged: Rahul Gandhi on whether mother Sonia, Akhilesh's father Mulayam Singh would campaign Priyanka (sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) has been of tremendous help to me and I have been so to her, if she campaigns or not is her choice; she is an asset to Congress: Rahul Gandhi Whether we will form an alliance in Lok Sabha or not is open to discussion: Rahul Gandhi This is people's alliance. Rahul Gandhi and I know each other. It is a matter of happiness that we will now also work together: Akhilesh Yadav We are like two wheels of the same cycle - one of progress and one of prosperity. Cycle and hand is a great combination: Akhilesh Yadav If we reveal anything now, no suspense will remain: Akhilesh on seat-sharing in constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi This alliance isn't opportunistic: Akhilesh Yadav Uttar Pradesh will vote for a new state assembly in a seven-phase election between February 11 and March 8. Out of the 403 assembly seats, Congress will contest 105 seats and the Samajwadi Party will field its candidates in the remaining 298 seats. (WION)

Akhilesh and I like 2 wheels of a cycle: Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh CM's first address post alliance

The Congress has almost finalised the seat-sharing arrangement for the Assembly elections with the Samajwadi Party (SP) faction led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav but it is subject to the Election Commission&#39;s verdict on the disputed bicycle symbol.

Congress insiders said that in case the warring SP factions decide to unite, as indicated by the 77-year old patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, the possibilities of the alliance would look remote.

On Friday, Mulayam Singh appeared yielding to the prospect of letting the faction led by his son to use the party&#39;s symbol. He told his supporters that he doesn&#39;t want to further damage the SP&#39;s chances in the polls because of its internal feud.

A hectic backroom activity had reached a feverish pitch in Delhi over the past few days, with the Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad conducting meetings with Ramgopal Yadav, who is anchoring Akhilesh&#39;s faction, at a secret place to fine-tune the distribution of seats. The Congress is negotiating for some 150 seats, leaving 253 for Akhilesh&#39;s party.

Congress leaders said that they expect Ram Gopal Yadav to finally give them 110 to 120 seats and also seek an assurance that other alliance partners, such as the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh, Peace Party, breakaway Apana Dal of Krishna Patel, Janata Dal (U), Trinamool Congress and Nationalist Congress Party would get seats from the Congress quota.

Earlier, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as well as Azad had ruled out any alliance with the SP. Azad broke this news to Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders a few days back, asking them to quickly identify the seats to be sought in the bargain.

Congress is seeking to field candidates for 80 to 90 seats, leaving the rest for other alliance partners out of its quota of 110-120. State Congress leaders at a closed-door meeting with Gandhi had clearly told him last month that the party would not cut much ice on its own and a four-cornered fight would benefit the BJP.

Sources said it was after Priyanka came into the picture that he gave a green signal for the alliance. Earlier, the Congress was of the opinion that it should take advantage of the infighting in the SP and project itself as an alternative.

The idea is to project the UP arrangement as a &#39;Grand Alliance&#39; like the one formed ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections to defeat the BJP.

It is believed that Congress President Sonia Gandhi&#39;s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been working with Akhilesh&#39;s wife Dimple, who is also an MP, to stitch the alliance.

Both of them are understood to have met a few days ago. But the SP sources said that Dimple had called on Priyanka to greet on her 45th birthday on Thursday. The deal may be announced as early as Tuesday after the EC passes its order on Monday.

Congress leaders apprehend that in case the two SP factions decide to come together again, there will be hardly any seats left for the alliance.

In case both the parties join hands, Priyanka and Dimple will be campaigning together. While Priyanka will be projected as the scion of the Gandhi family, Dimple will be branded as &#39;an ideal wife and bahu (daughter-in-law)&#39;.

(This report first appeared in DNA)

Congress insiders said that in case the warring SP factions decide to unite, the possibilities of the alliance would look remote

The Congress has almost finalised the seat-sharing arrangement for the Assembly elections with the Samajwadi Party (SP) faction led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav but it is subject to the Election Commission's verdict on the disputed bicycle symbol. Congress insiders said that in case the warring SP factions decide to unite, as indicated by the 77-year old patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, the possibilities of the alliance would look remote. On Friday, Mulayam Singh appeared yielding to the prospect of letting the faction led by his son to use the party's symbol. He told his supporters that he doesn't want to further damage the SP's chances in the polls because of its internal feud. A hectic backroom activity had reached a feverish pitch in Delhi over the past few days, with the Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad conducting meetings with Ramgopal Yadav, who is anchoring Akhilesh's faction, at a secret place to fine-tune the distribution of seats. The Congress is negotiating for some 150 seats, leaving 253 for Akhilesh's party. Congress leaders said that they expect Ram Gopal Yadav to finally give them 110 to 120 seats and also seek an assurance that other alliance partners, such as the Rashtriya Lok Dal of Ajit Singh, Peace Party, breakaway Apana Dal of Krishna Patel, Janata Dal (U), Trinamool Congress and Nationalist Congress Party would get seats from the Congress quota. Earlier, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as well as Azad had ruled out any alliance with the SP. Azad broke this news to Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders a few days back, asking them to quickly identify the seats to be sought in the bargain. Congress is seeking to field candidates for 80 to 90 seats, leaving the rest for other alliance partners out of its quota of 110-120. State Congress leaders at a closed-door meeting with Gandhi had clearly told him last month that the party would not cut much ice on its own and a four-cornered fight would benefit the BJP. Sources said it was after Priyanka came into the picture that he gave a green signal for the alliance. Earlier, the Congress was of the opinion that it should take advantage of the infighting in the SP and project itself as an alternative. The idea is to project the UP arrangement as a 'Grand Alliance' like the one formed ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections to defeat the BJP. It is believed that Congress President Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been working with Akhilesh's wife Dimple, who is also an MP, to stitch the alliance. Both of them are understood to have met a few days ago. But the SP sources said that Dimple had called on Priyanka to greet on her 45th birthday on Thursday. The deal may be announced as early as Tuesday after the EC passes its order on Monday. Congress leaders apprehend that in case the two SP factions decide to come together again, there will be hardly any seats left for the alliance. In case both the parties join hands, Priyanka and Dimple will be campaigning together. While Priyanka will be projected as the scion of the Gandhi family, Dimple will be branded as 'an ideal wife and bahu (daughter-in-law)'. (This report first appeared in DNA)

UP election: Congress close to finalising seat-sharing arrangement with Akhilesh

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Akhilesh and I like 2 wheels of a cycle: Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh CM's first address post alliance

UP election: Congress close to finalising seat-sharing arrangement with Akhilesh