Dismissing speculation of a strain in ties with the Congress, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said alliance with the party was on in Uttar Pradesh and there was no dispute with Rahul Gandhi.
"All is well that ends well...there is no dispute...there will be an alliance," Akhilesh Yadav said when asked about his absence from Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Amethi and Rae Bareli.
Earlier this week, Akhilesh Yadav had said he would join Rahul Gandhi's yatra only after seat sharing was finalised.
The state units of both parties are likely to hold a joint Press Conference soon to formally announce the Alliance.
Sources said the Samajwadi Party has agreed to give 17–19 seats to the Congress in Uttar Pradesh as part of their seat-sharing agreement. The state has 80 Lok Sabha constituencies.
As per the latest arrangement, Congress has been given the Sitapur seat instead of Hathras. The Congress had initially submitted a list of 28 seats it wanted to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The development comes even as the Samajwadi Party sprung a surprise on the Congress by unilaterally declaring candidates on 27 seats. On Monday, the party declared 11 candidates, including don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's brother and BSP MP Afzal Ansari.
On January 30, the Samajwadi Party had announced its first list of candidates for 16 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.
