SP throws spanner in JD-U bid for grand alliance in UP

Throwing a spanner in JD-U's efforts to form a 'maha gathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2017 assembly polls, ruling Samajwadi Party today said it would go solo and not become part of any grand alliance.
"Party state president Akhilesh Yadav has already made the party's stand clear that it will go alone in the 2017 polls and will not become part of any alliance," SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury told reporters here.
In Bihar too, SP had walked out of the JD(U)-RJD-Cong grand alliance and formed a third front to contest the assembly polls.
Apparently attacking JD(U) for trying to forge a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Chowdhury said those who have never "struggled" and always remained at the "mercy" of the government have now become "over enthusiastic" due to victory in the "neighbouring state" (Bihar).

"SP already has grand alliance with 22 crore people of the state (UP) and they know only this party can fight communal forces and those dabbling in communal politics," he said.
Noting that UP was facing challenge from communal forces, Chowdhury said the chief minister was effectively dealing with them while propagating his development agenda.

Talks of JD-U forming an umbrella alliance gained momentum in the political circles after its president Sharad Yadav dropped ample indication of forming such a tie up with Rashtriya Lok Dal by backing its candidates on the three seats in Uttar Pradesh where Assembly bye-elections will be held next month.

After a meeting of the JD(U) state executive meeting here yesterday, Yadav had said doors were open for a grand alliance for which "talks were on".
"Talks are on but nothing concrete has come up till now," he told reporters.