UP elections 2022: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav holds meeting with allies in Lucknow

Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting with leaders of allies in Lucknow on Wednesday.

After the meeting, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar said that the allies have pledged to make Akhilesh Yadav the next Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

"We have pledged to make Akhilesh Yadav the next CM of Uttar Pradesh. The list of candidates of the SP-led alliance will be released in a phased manner. My party will not contest in the first and second phases," Om Prakash Rajbhar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Elections for the 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10, the Election Commission said.

The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

In the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP won a landslide victory winning 312 Assembly seats. The party secured a 39.67 per cent vote share in the elections for 403-member Assembly. Samajwadi Party bagged 47 seats, BSP won 19 while Congress could manage to win only seven seats.

(With inputs from ANI)