Congress strategist Prashant meets SP chief Mulayam and Amar Singh

La w Kumar Mishra

Patna: A late Tuesday evening meeting between Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav, SP MP Amar Singh and Congress’s election strategist in UP  Prashant Kishore Pandey has laid grounds for a new combination emerging in UP assembly elections.

Pandey, who had earlier worked with BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections and with JD (U) in Bihar assembly elections in 2015, was drafted by the Congress for UP assembly elections. Kishore met Mulayam and Amar in New Delhi and discussed strategy for the assembly elections there following the last week’s developments in the SP.

The three are reported to have discussed new measures to ensure return of SP to power and formation of the Grand Alliance of non BJP secular parties-minus BSP. Mulayam has invited leaders of RJD and JD(U) also for November 5 rally at Lucknow. He has sent invitations to JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad. Lalu accepted the invitation and decided to go there. However, Nitish is likely to abstain from the proposed rally due to his engagements with Chhath festival in his family.

Prashant Kishore is likely to seek seat sharing with the Samajwadi party in the UP elections, according to JD(U) leaders here. Congress, JD(U) and Samajwadi Party will make adjustment of constituencies for Ajit Singh nominated candidates too.