Cornered Mulayam seeks 40 seats from Akhilesh

After Akhilesh met Mulayam at the latter’s residence, his second meeting after getting the bicycle symbol, Mulayam appeared to have softened his stand but his camp chose to avoid the media. However, treading with caution, Akhilesh camp has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court in case the EC’s decision is challenged there. 

During the father-son meeting, Mulayam reportedly asked Akhilesh to retain about 40 candidates selected by his camp. “Over 90 per cent candidates in both the lists are common. We will finalise the list of candidates soon,” Akhilesh told reporters during an informal chat at his Kalidas Marg residence. He said at present his priority is to form Samajwadi Party government again and promised to take everyone along.

Efforts to form a ‘grand secular alliance’ in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh went into top gear on Tuesday with the Congress declaring that it has decided to tie up with Samajwadi Party and the shape of the formation would be announced in the next two days.