Any big-hearted party can join us to defeat BJP, says Akhilesh

LUCKNOW: Putting to rest the speculations over his reservation on reaching an understanding with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that any opposition party that wants to defeat the BJP and keeps a big-hearted approach, will be welcomed by his party.
He said that the BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) will be defeated by 'PDA' (Pichhde (backward classes), Dalit and Alpasankhyak (minorities).
On the issue of seat sharing and possible differences among the opposition parties that could crop up, Akhilesh cited instances when the Samajwadi Party entered into alliances and had no dispute on seat sharing or any other issue with the alliance partners. "Be it the alliance with the Congress in 2017 or tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2019, or even with smaller parties in 2022, there has been no dispute over seat sharing," he said while speaking at an event organised by a private television channel in Lucknow.
"This time, NDA will be defeated by PDA which stands for 'pichhde' (backward classes), Dalit and 'alpsankhyak' (minorities). This means Muslims brothers are also in this," he said.
Responding to a question, Akhilesh said that in the June 23 meeting of opposition parties in Patna, his formula for alliance at the national level will be that the opposition party which dominates a particular region or state should lead the elections there.
"I will suggest that those who want to defeat the BJP should come forward with a large heart," he said, adding that it can be done especially when BJP can join hands with those who rebuke the party and its leadership day in and day out.
"When BJP can bear the humiliation and embrace them, then those who want to defeat the BJP should also back those parties which are giving a tough fight to the BJP," he said.
"I have met a number of senior leaders of opposition parites and some of them are chief ministers of their respective states. All of them have echoed somewhat similar sentiments. We will discuss on June 23," he said.
In political circles, SP chief's statements is being seen as a confirmation that the June 23 meet of opposition parties in Patna has been convened to discuss the alliance formula.
The meeting has been convened by JD-U founder and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who has been meeting senior opposition leaders across the country to bring them together on one platform.