SP-Cong alliance strong, will win UP polls with majority: Cong leader

Lucknow: Disagreeing with Samajwadi Party leader Ravidas Mehrotra's remark on the Congress-SP alliance, the Congress on Thursday said that the alliance is strong and will win with majority.

"This alliance is very strong and will turn into a permanent one. I cannot comment on anyone's personal opinion, but, all I can say is that the alliance will win with majority," Congress leader Akhilesh Das told ANI.

"It is his personal opinion, but, the Congress party has been supporting Mehrotra throughout in the polls," he added.

He asserted that both the parties have been coordinating with patience.

"The chemistry between Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi is growing strong as they both are working together to strengthen the alliance," he said.

Earlier in the day, Mehrotra told ANI, "The Samajwadi Party reaped no benefit from its alliance with the Congress. The Samajwadi Party was capable enough to form its own government. In fact, had our party contested this election without any alliance, we would have got more seats."

The lawmaker from the Lucknow constituency also alleged that the Congress tried to defeat its party candidates in order to help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Samajwadi Party and the Congress forged a pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh contesting on 298 and 105 seats respectively.