Akhilesh, seven allies to name candidates jointly, first list soon

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday held a meeting with all his allies to finalise the seat arrangement.

It was decided that the names of SP candidates and those of the other alliance partners would be announced phase-wise and not party wise.

SP has entered into a tie-up with seven parties -- the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Mahan Dal, Janwadi Party (Socialist), Apna Dal faction led by Krishna Patel, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party and Gondwana Gantantra Party.


"Akhilesh Yadav said the parties can fight on their own symbol or on SP's symbol, whichever is the stronger option. He only said that the seat must not go waste," Mahan Dal chief Keshav Maurya told ET, adding that he will fight on the SP's symbol as the Election Commission has not recognised his party's symbol.

The first list of candidates is likely to be declared soon.