Akhilesh finally strikes alliance with Shivpal’s party

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday decided to conest the comimng Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in alliance with his estranged uncle’s party Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia).

The alliance was announced by Akhilesh through a tweet: ”We had a meeting with the National President of PSP (Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party) during which we settled the matter of alliance. The policy of taking regional parties along is continuously strengthening the SP and leading the SP and other allies to a historic victory.”( प्रसपा के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष जी से मुलाक़ात हुई और गठबंधन की बात तय हुई क्षेत्रीय दलों को साथ लेने की नीति सपा को निरंतर मजबूत कर रही है और सपा और अन्य सहयोगियों को ऐतिहासिक जीत की ओर ले जा रही है)

The ice finally thawed when Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav finally drove to Shivpal Singh Yadav’s residence for talks in the chilly December evening.

The two leaders had a meeting for 45 minutes.

“The meeting held without aides and in a cordial and emotional atmosphere. More such meetings will be held to work out the modalities in the coming days,” said a source.

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav had been repeatedly asking the two leaders to mend fences before the elections.

Shivpal Yadav had, on several occasions, said that he was ready to even merge his party with SP provided his dignity and respect of his supporters could be ensured.

Akhilesh Yadav had also maintained that he would have an alliance with his uncle but had avoided meeting or talking to him, setting off speculations about their relationship.(With IANS input)

–INDIA NEWS STREAM