SP nat'l executive authorises Akhilesh to decide on alliance, seat sharing for LS polls

The Samajwadi Party national executive today authorised party president Akhilesh Yadav to take decision on alliance and seat sharing for the general elections next year, an SP leader said.

Senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, "The main decision taken in the national executive is that party president Akhilesh Yadav has been authorised to take a decision on alliance and seat sharing for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls."
Asked to elaborate on the discussions at the meeting about the political scenario, Yadav parried a direct reply, saying, "I am telling you about the decisions not the discussions."
About absence of some party leaders, including Mohd Azam Khan from the meeting, he said, "Is it necessary that all should remain present? Ninety per cent of the members were present. Party president Akhilesh Yadav was also there."
Asked about possibilities of his contesting from Sambhal Lok Sabha seat, he said, "It is up to the party to decide whether I will contest or not...If it directs me, I will contest. If it doesn't, I will not."
To a question on to who will lead the alliance if it is formed, Ram Gopal Yadav said, "The government at the Centre is running with 17 parties. ...Their leader is only (Narendra) Modi. Every party has its leader."
When his attention was drawn towards the frequent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uttar Pradesh, Ram Gopal Yadav said, "This is just the beginning. As elections approach, he will have to come here on a daily basis."