Uttar Pradesh: Akhilesh Makes Big Overtures To Mayawati; Will SP And BSP Form An Alliance Again?

Lucknow: Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday that the relationship between the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) is growing stronger and will deepen further. He made this statement at an event where more than 15,000 people from different parties joined the SP. Addressing the "PDA" (Prem Prasar Samaroh) organized before Holi, Akhilesh Yadav said that this event will strengthen brotherhood and cooperation among people.

"The foundation of peace and progress rests on PDA. Social unity is the greatest achievement of positive and progressive politics, hence we named it PDA," he said. He added that this year the "PDA Holi Milan" is being organized before the traditional Holi Milan.

Who have joined the SP?

Among those joining the SP are former minister Naseeruddin Siddiqui and former MLA Rajkumar Pal of Apna Dal (Sonelal). Siddiqui was once considered a senior BSP leader and a close associate of Mayawati. He served as a minister four times in her government. He was expelled from the BSP in 2017.

What did Akhilesh say about opposition unity?

Akhilesh Yadav said that this joining is important because it will strengthen the PDA's prospects. He said that B.R. Ambedkar and Ram Manohar Lohia once tried to give a new direction to politics, but circumstances and the political environment did not allow them enough time. He said, "Alliances have been formed and later broken, but we hope that in the future we will strengthen that struggle together."

When was the BSP-SP alliance formed?

It is noteworthy that the BSP and SP formed an alliance in Uttar Pradesh before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, but this alliance broke after the elections.

What did Akhilesh Yadav say about Yogi Adityanath?

In an indirect attack on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav said that a revered Shankaracharya had been insulted. Without naming him, he said, "We are with Shankaracharya ji." He also alleged that attempts were being made to question traditions and obtain "certificates" from others. Recently, during his address to the Assembly, Yogi Adityanath broke his silence on the controversy between the district administration and Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati during the Magh Mela in Prayagraj. He stated that not everyone can use the title of Shankaracharya and that religious decorum and the law must be followed.