UP Assembly Elections: Shivpal Yadav hints at alliance, vows to unite all secular parties to defeat BJP

Lucknow: Hinting at forging alliance, Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav on Thursday vowed to unite all secular parties to defeat BJP in UP Assembly Elections.

Also, he said that national leadership of Samajwadi Party and Netaji (Mulayam) will take a call on possible alliances.

Earlier, seeking to send a message of unity in the ruling Samajwadi Party which has been battling a bitter power struggle, Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday flagged off Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's rath yatra in the presence of state SP chief Shivpal Yadav in Lucknow.

Ending days of suspense on whether he will be present or not, the SP patriarch arrived at La Martinere grounds - the flag off venue - soon after Akhilesh reached there. Shivpal also joined them moments later.

Mulayam took a seat on the stage and was flanked by Shivpal on one side and Akhilesh on the other to send a message that the party was united ahead of the upcoming UP Assemly elections barely a few months away.