Two candidates of the Samajwadi Party in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on Thursday joined the Congress, apparently as part of an understanding between the two parties which are entering into a pre-poll alliance.
Shahanwaz Rana, SP candidate from Muzaffarnagar, and Sherbaz Pathan, a candidate from Chandpur, joined the Congress in presence of Ghulam Nabi Azad, party’s in-charge of UP.
Both the leaders had appeared on the lists issued by two Samajwadi Party factions, each led by Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Sources said that their joining into Congress was done at the behest of UP Chief Minister and SP national president Akhilesh Yadav.
Talking to India TV, Shahanwaz Rana said he wants to strengthen secular forces and that is why he has joined the Congress. He said he would contest elections if he is given ticket by the party.
Though not announced formally, Samajwadi Party and Congress have entered a pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh and have already finalised a seat-sharing formula.
According to SP National Vice-President Kironmoy Nanda, the ruling party will contest on 300 seats in 403-member assembly, leaving rest of the seats for its junior partner.
