Akhilesh hints at joining hands with Maya

In an apparent bid to counter BJP in the next general elections in 2019, Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hinted at joining hands with arch rival and BSP supremo Mayawati.
 
Akhilesh also said that his party's alliance with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh would continue.
 
Speaking to the reporters Akhilesh dropped indications that Mayawati could take part in Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's proposed rally in Patna.
 
Lalu has convened a 'BJP bhagao, deshbachao' rally in Patna on August 27. He has invited SP, BSP, Congress and ''secular'' parties to attend the rally. The RJD chief has been trying to form a 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) to counter the saffron party.
 
''Wait till Lalu Yadav's rally...he has invited all secular parties...everything will be clear,'' Akhilesh remarked when asked about joining hands with Mayawati.
 
He said that he would attend the rally. Mayawati has also dropped hints that she may take part in Lalu's rally.
 
The two leaders had recently attended the luncheon hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi to formulate opposition strategy over the forthcoming presidential polls.
 
Akhilesh also said that his ''friendship'' with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was intact. ''We will remain allies,'' he added.
 
Congress and SP had contested in the recent assembly polls in UP in an alliance. The alliance, however, failed to click and both parties received a massive drubbing at the polls. Congress could win only seven seats, which was its worst performance in the state while SP finished with 47.
 
BSP too suffered a huge setback in the polls and could win only 19 seats.