BSP chief Mayawati and SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav address the media in Lucknow on Saturday. (Express photo/Vishal Srivastav)Twenty-four years after the infamous guesthouse episode, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati have decided to bury the hatchet and begin their seat-sharing preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections against the ruling BJP. Making a formal announcement in this regard during a joint press meet in Lucknow today, Mayawati took a jibe at the central government, saying, “This press conference will give sleepless nights to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.”
The holding of the joint press conference was announced on Friday by SP national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary and Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary SC Misra. However, leaving aside two Lok Sabha seats — Amethi and Rae Bareli — for the Congress, there are as many as 13 Lok Sabha seats where the two parties may have to negotiate hard, given their performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections against the BJP. Earlier this week, Mayawati had used the words “SP-BSP alliance” for the first time in a statement through which she expressed support for Akhilesh Yadav whose alleged role in a mining scam has now come under the CBI scanner.
BJP's downfall has begun from UP, Bihar: Tejashwi Yadav
SP, BSP cannot fight Modi on their own: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The SP and BSP have allied neither for the country nor for Uttar Pradesh, but for their survival. They know they cannot fight Modi on their own and their Opposition to him is the sole base of their alliance."
BJP confident of win despite SP-BSP alliance
Alliance need of the hour: Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath also welcomed the alliance. He said, "Today there is a need for alliances in the entire country. BJP got only 31% vote in 2014 and claimed it was people's mandate, this happened due to split in votes."
You know who is my choice: Akhilesh Yadav on Mayawati as PM
'Forgotten 'guest house' incident in nation's interest'
Mamata Banerjee welcomes SP-BSP alliance
Insult to Mayawati is an insult to me: Akhilesh Yadav
"Any insult to Mayawati is an insult to me," the SP supremo said.
SP-BSP alliance end to BJP misrule: Akhilesh
Thanking his BSP counterpart, Akhilesh said, "I would like to thank Mayawati for an equitable alliance. This is an end to BJP misrule."
Under BJP rule, people getting killed due to caste: Akhilesh
Taking over from where the BSP chief stopped, SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav said, "The BJP has raked up the issue of caste in UP. People are being killed in encounters because of their caste. "
Leaving Amethi, Rae Baraeli for Congress: Mayawati
"Leaving Amethi and Rae Bareli for the Congress," Mayawati said.
Leaving Amethi, Rae Baraeli for Congress: Mayawati
"Leaving Amethi and Rae Bareli for the Congress," Mayawati said.
'38 seats each for SP, BSP'
"The BSP-SP will contest 38 seats each out of 80 seats. We are confident of defeating the BJP unless they tamper with the electronic voting machines," Mayawati said.
Mayawati: BJP playing with religious sentiment
"The BJP is playing with religious sentiment," the BSP chief said.
No gain from alliance with Congress: Mayawati
"There is no real gain from aligning with Congress. Whether it is Congress of BJP, it is the same thing. The defence scams have hit both Congress and BJP. All the sections are unhappy with the parties," Mayawati added.
Unannounced emergency under BJP rule: Mayawati
"The Congress rule never benefitted anyone. The party during its tenure had announced a state of emergency. However, during BJP's tenure, we are seeing a state of an unannounced emergency," she said.
'Stop BJP through UP'
"The alliance is not just to win polls but to represent common people. The only way to stop the BJP from returning to power is through Uttar Pradesh," Mayawati said.
'Alliance to bring development in society'
"The alliance will lead to development in the society. When we allied with the SP in 1993, we left behind the saffron party's casteist agenda," the BSP chief said.
Need to fight BJP's casteist views: Mayawati
"We are here to combat BJP's narrow casteist views," Mayawati said.
Time for new political revolution in India: Mayawati
"We (BSP-SP) have decided to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together, this will lead to a new political revolution in the country," the BSP chief said.
Mayawati says her party had allied with SP in 1993 to fight assembly polls
We first allied with the SP in 1993 to fight assembly polls, says Mayawati. Have decided national interest is more interest, she added.
Mayawati slams BJP in press meet
This press conference will give sleepless nights to BJP, says Mayawati
Maywati, Akhilesh share stage
Mayawati announces tie-up for 2019
Mayawati, Akhilesh arrive to address press conference
BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav will shortly address the press. Stay tuned!
Explained : Why SP, BSP tie-up is a signal to both BJP and Congress
The Indian Express explains: The SP-BSP alliance is no less significant than the JD(S)-Congress alliance in Karnataka or the recent Congress victories in Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh. It has the potential not only to upset the BJP applecart but send the Congress a message that it cannot dictate terms to regional forces.
Posters of Akhilesh-Mayawati put across Lucknow
Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati to address media on SP-BSP alliance
After the infamous guesthouse episode 24 years ago, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati have decided to bury the hatchet. The two party leaders are expected to make a formal announcement about their alliance during a joint press meet in Lucknow today. Follow this blog for all latest updates.