Will emerge as single biggest party in UP, claims Shivpal Singh Yadav

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) president Shivpal Singh Yadav on Saturday claimed that his party is in direct contest with the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls and will emerge as the single largest party in the state.

"In UP, we are in direct contest with the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls," he said, while talking to ANI before filing his nomination papers. "We are going to emerge as the single largest party in the state," he said.

Shivpal Singh Yadav was here to file his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election. He is in the fray against his nephew Akshaya Yadav, son of Samajwadi Party general secretary Prof Ram Gopal Yadav. Akshaya is also the sitting MP from the seat.

When asked if he would convey his "good wishes" to his nephew, he said: "I am not seeing relations anymore. I am here to contest the election on the people's demand. I just have to see the people of Uttar Pradesh and Firozabad."

"Those who seek my blessings may do so after elections are over. I am in the election field. I only have to see the people right now," former SP heavyweight said.

Shivpal also claimed that his party has formed alliances with several smaller and regional parties.

"We have declared the list of 41 candidates in Uttar Pradesh. We have also declared candidates in 11 other states. We have formed a coalition with the Bahujan Mukti Party and the Peace Party. Around 50 smaller parties are supporting us," he claimed.

In 2014, BJP and its allies won 73 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats at stake in the state. Samajwadi Party won five seats while the Congress could manage to win only two seats. Bahujan Samajwadi Party drew a blank.

This time SP has formed an alliance with the BSP.

Seven-phase Lok Sabha polls are set to begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

In Uttar Pradesh, where 80 seats are at stake, polling will be held during all seven phases.