No 'mahagathbandhan', only merger for UP polls: Mulayam

Ending the speculation about a 'mahagathbandhan' in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election slated next year, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday ruled out alliance with any party and stressed upon the possibility of only merger.

"There will be no alliance for the UP Assembly polls. However, there may be only merger," he said.

"If anyone wants to contest along with us, they will have to merge their party with ours," he added.

Earlier this month, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, JD (U)'s Sharad Yadav and leaders from other parties had attended the silver jubilee of Samajwadi Party's foundation day in Lucknow, triggering speculation that the parties might come together to form a secular alliance against the BJP.

The ruling party chief's fuelled speculations after marathon meetings Congress' poll strategist Prashant Kishor had with him in Delhi and Lucknow.

The grand alliance of the RJD, the JD (U) and the Congress had defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar earlier this year.

The election to the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is scheduled early next year.