As part of the alliance, the Samajwadi Party will contest on 298 seats while the Congress will field its candidates in 105 seats. Hailing the alliance as “historic”, Samajwadi Party’s Uttar Pradesh chief Naresh Uttam said both parties will initiate a historic era by halting the BSP and BJP.
Congress’ Uttar Pradesh unit president Raj Babbar on his part said the alliance will make a concerted effort towards strengthening secularism and goodwill in the society. The formal announcement of SP-Congress alliance has come after huge discussions by the two sides over few days before they agreed to 298-105 formula.
Hours after the Congress and Samajwadi Party joined hands for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Sheila Dikshit on Sunday withdrew herself as the state chief ministerial candidate, saying it is time for the younger generation to take over. Dikshit said there cannot be two chief ministerial faces in an alliance in the politically crucial state.
