Pranab in campaign in UP, woos SP and BSP lawmakers

Both Samajwadi Party and BSP have already pledged their support for Mukherjee and today Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav hosted a lunch in honour of Mukherjee who later attended a dinner by BSP supremo Mayawati.

Mukherjee reached out to SP MLAs and BSP parliamentarians and legislators who were present in strength at the two separate interactions with him.

The former Finance Minister also met over tea MLAs of Congress, RLD and other allies.

UP accounts for around 1.62 lakh votes of the total electoral college of 10.98 lakh votes.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati paid rich compliments to Mukherjee as an administrator and politician and expressed the confidence that he would win with a huge margin.

Mukherjee, who reached here this afternoon, went straight from the airport to the CM's official residence where all members of the UP Legislature, including ministers, were invited over lunch by Akhilesh.

While SP and Congress members along with MLAs of other parties attended the lunch, BSP and BJP members skipped the event.

MLAs of smaller parties, including Mukhtar Ansari of Kaumi Ekta Dal and Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal also attended the lunch.

Mulayam Singh Yadav and senior ministers, including Mohd Azam Khan, were among those present. (more)