BSP chief Mayawati will address rallies in Greater Noida & Meerut today

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Muslims want to rise above religious identity

Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad on Friday called off the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-nishad-party-and-janvadi-party-socialist-join-sp-bsp-rld-alliance-in-uttar-pradesh-205715">alliance with SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh</a>. Nishad noted that his party workers and the core committee were upset with the alliance.&nbsp;

"Akhilesh Yadav had said he'll make an announcement on seats for our party. But they didn't put our name on poster/letter or anything. My party workers, authorities, core committee were upset," Nishad told media adding that his party is now free to explore other option or to even go solo in the ensuing general elections.&nbsp;

"So the Nishad party has taken a decision today that we are not with the 'gathbandhan', we are free, can fight elections independently and can look for other options as well. The party is free now," the party chief noted.&nbsp;

Later in the day, Nishad was spotted meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.&nbsp;

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The development came just a few days after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced that Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) are now a part of Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

According to the seat-sharing arrangement, Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while BSP will fight on 38. Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal was being considered the third wheel of the alliance.&nbsp;

Lok Sabha 2019 will be held in seven phases starting April 11, ending on May 19. Uttar Pradesh will cast vote in seven phases.&nbsp;

Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad on Friday called off the alliance with SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh. Nishad noted that his party workers and the core committee were upset with the alliance.

Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad on Friday called off the alliance with SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh. Nishad noted that his party workers and the core committee were upset with the alliance. "Akhilesh Yadav had said he'll make an announcement on seats for our party. But they didn't put our name on poster/letter or anything. My party workers, authorities, core committee were upset," Nishad told media adding that his party is now free to explore other option or to even go solo in the ensuing general elections. "So the Nishad party has taken a decision today that we are not with the 'gathbandhan', we are free, can fight elections independently and can look for other options as well. The party is free now," the party chief noted. Later in the day, Nishad was spotted meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad meets Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/MNvdVzOiXQ — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 29, 2019 × The development came just a few days after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced that Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) are now a part of Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance in Uttar Pradesh. According to the seat-sharing arrangement, Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while BSP will fight on 38. Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal was being considered the third wheel of the alliance. Lok Sabha 2019 will be held in seven phases starting April 11, ending on May 19. Uttar Pradesh will cast vote in seven phases.

Lok Sabha polls: Nishad Party quits alliance with SP, BSP in Uttar Pradesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced that Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) are now a part of Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

According to the seat-sharing arrangement, Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while BSP will fight on 38. Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal was being considered the third wheel of the alliance.&nbsp;

Lok Sabha 2019 will be held in seven phases starting April 11, ending on May 19. Uttar Pradesh will cast vote in seven phases.&nbsp;

On March 8, the Samajwadi Party had released its first list of nine candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, fielding party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav from its stronghold Mainpuri.

The party later announced that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav would contest from Kannauj, where she is the sitting MP.

The party has decided to field MPs Dharmendra Yadav and Akshay Yadav from the current seats of Badaun and Firozabad, respectively.&nbsp;

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced that Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) are now a part of Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday announced that Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) are now a part of Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance in Uttar Pradesh. According to the seat-sharing arrangement, Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while BSP will fight on 38. Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal was being considered the third wheel of the alliance. Lok Sabha 2019 will be held in seven phases starting April 11, ending on May 19. Uttar Pradesh will cast vote in seven phases. On March 8, the Samajwadi Party had released its first list of nine candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, fielding party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav from its stronghold Mainpuri. The party later announced that SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav would contest from Kannauj, where she is the sitting MP. The party has decided to field MPs Dharmendra Yadav and Akshay Yadav from the current seats of Badaun and Firozabad, respectively.

Lok Sabha polls: Nishad Party and Janvadi Party (Socialist) join SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh

Congress will stake <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/assembly-elections-results-2018-incoming-congress-regime-has-a-lesson-to-learn-from-bjp-183271">claim to form the government in Rajasthan on Wednesday </a>evening after the party president decides on the new chief minister, Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot said.

"We have full majority and will stake claim to form government in the evening. We will take along all non-BJP parties and elected members who are against BJP and are willing to support us," Pilot told reporters at the Pradesh Congress Committee before the Congress Legislative Party meeting.

Asked about the choice of the chief minister, Pilot said the party's newly elected MLAs will debate the question, and the party president will take a decision after that.

The chief minister would be declared in the second CLP meeting in the evening and thereafter the party leaders will meet Governor Kalyan Singh to stake claim on the government.

The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in Rajasthan in Tuesday's vote count, winning 99 seats. It's ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won one seat for a total of 100 seats -- the required number to form government.

The BJP got 73 seats, and the Bahujan Samaj Party won 6 seats. BSP leader Mayawati on Wednesday pledged support for the Congress. The CPI(M) got two seats, Independents won 13 and other parties got 6, according to the state Election Commission.

Congress will stake claim to form the government in Rajasthan on Wednesday evening after the party president decides on the new chief minister, Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot said.

Congress will stake claim to form the government in Rajasthan on Wednesday evening after the party president decides on the new chief minister, Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot said. "We have full majority and will stake claim to form government in the evening. We will take along all non-BJP parties and elected members who are against BJP and are willing to support us," Pilot told reporters at the Pradesh Congress Committee before the Congress Legislative Party meeting. Asked about the choice of the chief minister, Pilot said the party's newly elected MLAs will debate the question, and the party president will take a decision after that. The chief minister would be declared in the second CLP meeting in the evening and thereafter the party leaders will meet Governor Kalyan Singh to stake claim on the government. The Congress emerged as the single-largest party in Rajasthan in Tuesday's vote count, winning 99 seats. It's ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won one seat for a total of 100 seats -- the required number to form government. The BJP got 73 seats, and the Bahujan Samaj Party won 6 seats. BSP leader Mayawati on Wednesday pledged support for the Congress. The CPI(M) got two seats, Independents won 13 and other parties got 6, according to the state Election Commission.

Rajasthan polls 2018: Congress to stake claim on govt in state, says Sachin Pilot

Counting of votes in&nbsp;4 Lok Sabha bypoll seats began on Thursday morning. The bypolls were held on Monday in Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and in a single seat in Nagaland.

After taking an early lead through postal ballots,&nbsp;BJP's&nbsp;Mriganka Singh is now trailing against&nbsp;RLD's&nbsp;Tabassum Hasan&nbsp;by over 8,000 votes.

After leading in Bhandara-Gondiya, BJP is now trailing against NCP in Maharashtra's Bhandara-Gondiya by 3,000 votes.&nbsp;

In Palghar, BJP's Gavit Rajendra Dhedya is leading by over 10,000 votes against&nbsp;Shiv Sena.

The high profile Kairana seat has all political pandits transfixed with BJP's Mriganka Singh, daughter of late BJP MP Hukum Singh pitted against Rashtriya Lok Dal's (RLD) Tabassum Hasan with the Opposition Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP providing support on the ground.

A victory for RLD would be seen as strengthing of the federal front after its victory in Karnataka&nbsp;Assembly elections recently and in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats in Uttar Pradesh earlier.

The voter turnout in Kairana was 54 per cent amid complaints of Electronic Voting Machine(EVM) Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail(VVPAT) malfunction which led the Election Commission to order repoll in 73 booths.

Malfunctioning of EVMs was also reported in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The BJP and NCP are locked in a bitter battle in the crucial Maharashtra seats.

The lone seat in Nagaland had reported 70 per cent polling with the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) battling the NDPP and the BJP.

Malfunctioning of EVMs was also reported in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

Counting of votes in 4 Lok Sabha bypoll seats began on Thursday morning. The bypolls were held on Monday in Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Palghar and Bhandara-Gondiya in Maharashtra and in a single seat in Nagaland. After taking an early lead through postal ballots, BJP's Mriganka Singh is now trailing against RLD's Tabassum Hasan by over 8,000 votes. After leading in Bhandara-Gondiya, BJP is now trailing against NCP in Maharashtra's Bhandara-Gondiya by 3,000 votes. In Palghar, BJP's Gavit Rajendra Dhedya is leading by over 10,000 votes against Shiv Sena. The high profile Kairana seat has all political pandits transfixed with BJP's Mriganka Singh, daughter of late BJP MP Hukum Singh pitted against Rashtriya Lok Dal's (RLD) Tabassum Hasan with the Opposition Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP providing support on the ground. A victory for RLD would be seen as strengthing of the federal front after its victory in Karnataka Assembly elections recently and in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats in Uttar Pradesh earlier. The voter turnout in Kairana was 54 per cent amid complaints of Electronic Voting Machine(EVM) Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail(VVPAT) malfunction which led the Election Commission to order repoll in 73 booths. Malfunctioning of EVMs was also reported in Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The BJP and NCP are locked in a bitter battle in the crucial Maharashtra seats. The lone seat in Nagaland had reported 70 per cent polling with the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) battling the NDPP and the BJP.

Live Lok Sabha bypolls: BJP's Mriganka Singh trails in Kairana; NCP leads in Bhandara-Gondiya

Rashtriya Janta Dal(RLD) candidate Tabassum Hasan has opened an almost invincible lead of over 26,000&nbsp;votes against BJP's Mriganka Singh&nbsp;in the crucial Kairana Lok Sabha constituency.

As the ballots were opened on Thursday morning, BJP's Mriganka Singh took an early lead in the postal ballot, however, it was soon overturned as other booths opened and counting of votes began in earnest.

Kairana has been the focus of attention after BJP lost the crucial Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok&nbsp;Sabha constituencies earlier&nbsp;considered to be the bastion of the ruling party in the state.

This was another test for the Opposition unit in Uttar Pradesh with the Congress, SP and BSP coming together to prop up the RLD candidate&nbsp;Tabassum Hasan after the Gorakhpur experiment when the SP and BSP came together to beat the BJP in chief minister Adityanath's home constituency.

BJP's Gavit Rajendra Dhedya won from Palghar in&nbsp;Maharashtra beating the Shiv Sena.

In the other seat in Maharashtra, the NCP was leading in the Bhandara-Gondiya seat by 3,000 votes when reports last came in.

Meanwhile, in Nagaland&nbsp;Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party(NDPP) is leading against &nbsp;Naga People's Front (NPF) by 34, 669 votes.

&nbsp;

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As the ballots were opened on Thursday morning, BJP's Mriganka Singh took an early lead in the postal ballot

Rashtriya Janta Dal(RLD) candidate Tabassum Hasan has opened an almost invincible lead of over 26,000 votes against BJP's Mriganka Singh in the crucial Kairana Lok Sabha constituency. As the ballots were opened on Thursday morning, BJP's Mriganka Singh took an early lead in the postal ballot, however, it was soon overturned as other booths opened and counting of votes began in earnest. Kairana has been the focus of attention after BJP lost the crucial Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha constituencies earlier considered to be the bastion of the ruling party in the state. This was another test for the Opposition unit in Uttar Pradesh with the Congress, SP and BSP coming together to prop up the RLD candidate Tabassum Hasan after the Gorakhpur experiment when the SP and BSP came together to beat the BJP in chief minister Adityanath's home constituency. BJP's Gavit Rajendra Dhedya won from Palghar in Maharashtra beating the Shiv Sena. In the other seat in Maharashtra, the NCP was leading in the Bhandara-Gondiya seat by 3,000 votes when reports last came in. Meanwhile, in Nagaland Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party(NDPP) is leading against Naga People's Front (NPF) by 34, 669 votes.

Lok Sabha bypolls: RLD opens decisive lead in Kairana; BJP wins in Palghar

Kairana by-election is being called the mother of all battles as Rashtriya Lok Dal ( RLD) candidate is giving a tough fight to BJP. The BJP had won this seat in a wave in 2014. The 2014 elections also witnessed complete rout of RLD, SP and BSP candidates in Uttar Pradesh. After tasting victory in Phoolpur and Gorakhpur, Opposition has once again got together and both SP and BSP are supporting the RLD candidate. RLD’s campaign is being held together by Jayant Chaudhary, former MP and grandson of former Prime Minister late Chaudhary Charan Singh. He says that RLD will defeat BJP candidate.

WION: Is RLD confident of winning election in Kairana?

Jayant Chaudhary: We will win elections in Kairana. The local economy is not doing well and farm crisis has affected every family in this region. We are running an innovative campaign. It is localised in nature and we have picked up issues related to common men. We have been asking people,”Is Ganna important to you or Jinnah.”&nbsp;Our’s is not a high decibel BJP campaign. I have done 145 meetings already and none of them were huge rallies. BJP’s campaign is negative as of now. More so our coalition is working in harmony and cadres of SP-BSP are supporting and cooperating with each other. Our workers are also watching national development very keenly and they feel that BJP can be taught a lesson in this election. For this reason, there is coming together of non-BJP people.

WION: 2013 riots created polarisation which wiped out your party. What is different today that Jat community will vote for you once again?

Jayant Chaudhary: I would say that the social alliance broke after 2013 riots. Hindu Muslim tensions made it difficult for the community to vote together. But we have built bridges. We organized bhaichara sammelans in the area. Lot of water has passed under the bridge since 2013. People want to move on. A lot of cases are being settled outside the courts too. We will beat the polarisation by bringing the people together. We failed to recognise the tension which existed prior to 2013 and could not effectively resolve it. Subsequently, small incidents led to bigger events and an open conflagration.

WION: Is Grand Alliance a good idea?

Jayant Chaudhary: Grand Alliance is in the national context. There is a difference but they can be worked out. But we need to choose sides. RSS says that regional partiers have always failed. Regional parties can take on Modi. All that is required is a coherent strategy.

WION: Big alliances in past have never completed the term ever?

Jayant Chaudhary: We are jumping the gun. Politics always throw up surprises. Life is not linear and history does not always repeat itself.

WION: Can grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh defeat BJP?

Jayant Chaudhary: It is happening. It can happen. At the regional level, votes can be transferred. Real cooperation can take place between regional parties. Cadres are motivated. They see themselves as part of a national story and this feeling is making a big difference on ground.

WION: Can we say that only challenge BJP is receiving from is from regional parties?

Jayant Chaudhary: Regional parties definitely pose a challenge but understand that Congress too will have to play a role. It is the largest national party in the Opposition. Congress will have to play the role of an axle. They are in middle of it too. But regional parties are playing an effective role of an Opposition. There is no problem of coming together but a larger understanding will need to be built for it to sustain itself.

&nbsp;

Kairana by-election is being called the mother of all battles as Rashtriya Lok Dal ( RLD) candidate is giving a tough fight to BJP

Kairana by-election is being called the mother of all battles as Rashtriya Lok Dal ( RLD) candidate is giving a tough fight to BJP. The BJP had won this seat in a wave in 2014. The 2014 elections also witnessed complete rout of RLD, SP and BSP candidates in Uttar Pradesh. After tasting victory in Phoolpur and Gorakhpur, Opposition has once again got together and both SP and BSP are supporting the RLD candidate. RLD’s campaign is being held together by Jayant Chaudhary, former MP and grandson of former Prime Minister late Chaudhary Charan Singh. He says that RLD will defeat BJP candidate. WION: Is RLD confident of winning election in Kairana? Jayant Chaudhary: We will win elections in Kairana. The local economy is not doing well and farm crisis has affected every family in this region. We are running an innovative campaign. It is localised in nature and we have picked up issues related to common men. We have been asking people,”Is Ganna important to you or Jinnah.” Our’s is not a high decibel BJP campaign. I have done 145 meetings already and none of them were huge rallies. BJP’s campaign is negative as of now. More so our coalition is working in harmony and cadres of SP-BSP are supporting and cooperating with each other. Our workers are also watching national development very keenly and they feel that BJP can be taught a lesson in this election. For this reason, there is coming together of non-BJP people. WION: 2013 riots created polarisation which wiped out your party. What is different today that Jat community will vote for you once again? Jayant Chaudhary: I would say that the social alliance broke after 2013 riots. Hindu Muslim tensions made it difficult for the community to vote together. But we have built bridges. We organized bhaichara sammelans in the area. Lot of water has passed under the bridge since 2013. People want to move on. A lot of cases are being settled outside the courts too. We will beat the polarisation by bringing the people together. We failed to recognise the tension which existed prior to 2013 and could not effectively resolve it. Subsequently, small incidents led to bigger events and an open conflagration. WION: Is Grand Alliance a good idea? Jayant Chaudhary: Grand Alliance is in the national context. There is a difference but they can be worked out. But we need to choose sides. RSS says that regional partiers have always failed. Regional parties can take on Modi. All that is required is a coherent strategy. WION: Big alliances in past have never completed the term ever? Jayant Chaudhary: We are jumping the gun. Politics always throw up surprises. Life is not linear and history does not always repeat itself. WION: Can grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh defeat BJP? Jayant Chaudhary: It is happening. It can happen. At the regional level, votes can be transferred. Real cooperation can take place between regional parties. Cadres are motivated. They see themselves as part of a national story and this feeling is making a big difference on ground. WION: Can we say that only challenge BJP is receiving from is from regional parties? Jayant Chaudhary: Regional parties definitely pose a challenge but understand that Congress too will have to play a role. It is the largest national party in the Opposition. Congress will have to play the role of an axle. They are in middle of it too. But regional parties are playing an effective role of an Opposition. There is no problem of coming together but a larger understanding will need to be built for it to sustain itself.

We will defeat BJP in Kairana: RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary to WION

The dream to stitch a grand alliance between Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal&nbsp;and Samajwadi Party turned out to be a cropper when SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav declared 325 out of 400 seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Mulayam, better known as Netaji in the political circuit of Uttar Pradesh, categorically said SP will not enter into any alliance for the forthcoming assembly elections. The elections are expected to be held in late February or early March in 2017 along with Punjab and Goa.

Insiders say that the decision to go alone comes from Mulayum Singh Yadav. Akhilesh Yadav was in support of the grand alliance and had categorically said that if a grand alliance is put into place then it will end up winning 300 seats. &nbsp;

Sources say that the insistence of the Congress Party for 100 seats led to collapse of the talk which was taking place informally between the SP and Congress. Congress was also insisting for the position of deputy chief minister. Even Rahul&nbsp;Gandhi on Tuesday remained non-committal on the alliance with regional party without denying the question out right whether they are in talks with anyone.&nbsp;The Samajwadi Party is expected to release 78 seats sometime next week.&nbsp;

The list also indicates that both Mulayum and Shivpal Yadav are on the same page and have only accommodated people close to them. The party denied tickets to sitting ministers considered close to the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. It includes Arvind Singh Gop from Barabanki, Pawan Pandey from Ayodhya and Kamal Akhtar from Western Uttar Pradesh. When asked as to where Akhilesh will contest the elections, Mulayam said,&rdquo; He can contest elections from anywhere he wants.&rdquo;

The list includes names which are controversial and team Akhilesh wanted them out of the power structure because of their antecedents. It includes dreaded don Atiq Ahmad from Kanpur Cant and Sibagtullah Ansari from Mohamdabad. Sibagtullah is elder brother of Muqthar Ansari again a noted don from the eastern Uttar Pradesh.

(WION)

Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal wanted to forge an alliance with Samajwadi Party to contest polls in India's most populous state

The dream to stitch a grand alliance between Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Samajwadi Party turned out to be a cropper when SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav declared 325 out of 400 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Mulayam, better known as Netaji in the political circuit of Uttar Pradesh, categorically said SP will not enter into any alliance for the forthcoming assembly elections. The elections are expected to be held in late February or early March in 2017 along with Punjab and Goa. Insiders say that the decision to go alone comes from Mulayum Singh Yadav. Akhilesh Yadav was in support of the grand alliance and had categorically said that if a grand alliance is put into place then it will end up winning 300 seats. Sources say that the insistence of the Congress Party for 100 seats led to collapse of the talk which was taking place informally between the SP and Congress. Congress was also insisting for the position of deputy chief minister. Even Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday remained non-committal on the alliance with regional party without denying the question out right whether they are in talks with anyone. The Samajwadi Party is expected to release 78 seats sometime next week. The list also indicates that both Mulayum and Shivpal Yadav are on the same page and have only accommodated people close to them. The party denied tickets to sitting ministers considered close to the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. It includes Arvind Singh Gop from Barabanki, Pawan Pandey from Ayodhya and Kamal Akhtar from Western Uttar Pradesh. When asked as to where Akhilesh will contest the elections, Mulayam said,” He can contest elections from anywhere he wants.” The list includes names which are controversial and team Akhilesh wanted them out of the power structure because of their antecedents. It includes dreaded don Atiq Ahmad from Kanpur Cant and Sibagtullah Ansari from Mohamdabad. Sibagtullah is elder brother of Muqthar Ansari again a noted don from the eastern Uttar Pradesh. (WION)

Uttar Pradesh elections: Ruling Samajwadi Party pulls plug on pre-poll alliance talks

The talks between the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on seat sharing for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh is in the last phase of discussion, with the Congress also wanting the position of deputy CM as part of the deal, sources told WION.

Sources confirmed to WION that talks between all three constituents are taking place at the highest level. &nbsp;The SP has proposed 78 seats to the Congress and 22 seats to RLD which still holds sway in some districts of the western Uttar Pradesh. But well-placed sources confirmed that Congress is still insisting on 100 seats and the final decision on the matter would be taken by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. Sources also say that apart from numbers, there is also a dispute on 15 seats which are being described as &ldquo;prestige seats&rdquo; by all sides. There is the possibility that a friendly fight can take place on these but the Congress wants to avoid it as it would send a wrong signal to the electorate.

The understanding is that if the three parties fail to come together then it would become a straight fight between the BJP and BSP. Even the SP stands to lose a chunk of upper castes in case it fights against all other parties. Even Congress stands to benefit as it has no organisational structure in Uttar Pradesh and with an SP-alliance, its candidate can get the minority votes which as of now lie with Mulayum Singh Yadav. Lastly, RLD&rsquo;s presence would strengthen the SP in western UP where there is often a straight fight between the BSP and the BJP.

Insiders say that alliance should be announced at the earliest for early distribution of election tickets and ample time to project Akhilesh Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate. For now, the ball is in Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi&rsquo;s court. 
 
(WION)

Congress also wants the position of deputy chief minister, sources told WION

The talks between the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on seat sharing for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh is in the last phase of discussion, with the Congress also wanting the position of deputy CM as part of the deal, sources told WION. Sources confirmed to WION that talks between all three constituents are taking place at the highest level. The SP has proposed 78 seats to the Congress and 22 seats to RLD which still holds sway in some districts of the western Uttar Pradesh. But well-placed sources confirmed that Congress is still insisting on 100 seats and the final decision on the matter would be taken by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. Sources also say that apart from numbers, there is also a dispute on 15 seats which are being described as “prestige seats” by all sides. There is the possibility that a friendly fight can take place on these but the Congress wants to avoid it as it would send a wrong signal to the electorate. The understanding is that if the three parties fail to come together then it would become a straight fight between the BJP and BSP. Even the SP stands to lose a chunk of upper castes in case it fights against all other parties. Even Congress stands to benefit as it has no organisational structure in Uttar Pradesh and with an SP-alliance, its candidate can get the minority votes which as of now lie with Mulayum Singh Yadav. Lastly, RLD’s presence would strengthen the SP in western UP where there is often a straight fight between the BSP and the BJP. Insiders say that alliance should be announced at the earliest for early distribution of election tickets and ample time to project Akhilesh Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate. For now, the ball is in Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s court. (WION)

Uttar Pradesh polls: Grand alliance talks between SP, Congress and RLD enter final stretch in India's most populous state

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