Following the first joint roadshow by the CM of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on 29 January, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has expressed his irritation over the alliance, saying that the SP was capable enough to contest and win elections alone and there was no need for the alliance with the Congress.
Yadav also said that he will not campaign for this alliance. Expressing his disappointment, he said:
What about the SP leaders whose tickets have been cancelled because of the alliance. What will they do now…
But the SP patriarch was not just content with expressing disappointment, he even directed party workers to file nominations against Congress candidates in the 105 assembly constituencies allocated to the Grand Old Party.
During the roadshow both Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi presented the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance as the one that stands for peace, progress and prosperity.
"Our alliance is people's alliance. We will form the government in Uttar Pradesh. This tie-up is to make sure that there is no scope for a lapse," Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said.