Will not join Rahul's Yatra till seat-sharing talks are over, says Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on February 19 said he will not join Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's  Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra till seat-sharing talks are finalised for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to ANI, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says "Right now talks are going on, lists have come from them, we have also given them the list. The moment, seat distribution is done, Samajwadi Party will join their Nyaya Yatra..."

According to reports, the SP had earlier  offered 11 seats to Congress out of the 80 total seats from Uttar Pradesh. Now, SP has increased this number to 15 seats. The Yatra will pass through Uttar Pradesh before entering Rajasthan.

"The number of seats and the names of the seats had already been decided, but Rahul Gandhi is adamant on certain seats, causing a delay in finalising the alliance," Congress insiders told India Today TV.

The result of the seat-sharing talks between Samajwadi Party and the Congress is crucial for  the INDIA bloc. The failure of such talks recentle led to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee deciding to contest in her state alone.

Earlier this month, Akhilesh  had accepted an invitation from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to join the yatra. He had expressed his intention to participate either in Amethi or Raebareli once the seat-sharing issue is resolved.