Akhilesh Yadav Says Alliance Is On; Congress To Fight On 105 Seats

The pre-poll alliance between the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2017 has been finalised. According to the agreement, the Congress would fight on 105 seats. The state has 403 seats.

While releasing his party’s election manifesto, Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav did not reveal any details about the partnership, but he was reported to have said that "the alliance is on."

The talks had run into troubled waters on Saturday and both sides had almost called off the alliance. However, after the intervention of Congress president Sonia Gandhi both sides came to an agreement.

Akhilesh announced a manifesto filled with freebies, from pressure cookers, to smart phones to old age homes, hoping to secure a second term. Interestingly, despite saying all is well in the SP, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav was not present at the event.