Lucknow, Jun 11: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that his party is ready to play second fiddle to Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to ensure defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Also Read - NEET Begins Amid Strict COVID Protocols | Nishank Wishes Luck to Students, Akhilesh Attacks Govt Over Medical Aspirants' Suicides

Akhilesh Yadav further said that Samajwadi Party was willing to contest fewer seats if it helped to ensure BJP’s rout. “We have an alliance with the BSP and it will continue. If we have to sacrifice 2-4 seats to ensure BJP’s defeat, we will not back out,” he was quoted as saying. Also Read - Mission 2022: Samajwadi Party Launches YouTube Channel Called 'Bicycle TV' to Expand Reach

Akhilesh reiterated that the pre-poll alliance of opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh, which recently won Kairana and Noorpur bypolls, will continue in future too. “Our motive is to win elections against BJP and for this, we are ready to ally with BSP,” the Samajwadi Party chief said. Also Read - JEE, NEET 2020: Lucknow Police Resorts to Lathi Charge Against Samajwadi Party Workers Protesting September Exams

Speaking at BSP’s national executive last month, Mayawati had said she would ally with other parties only if her party gets “a respectable number of seats”. A rift had emerged when the Samajwadi Party failed to ensure victory for BSP’s lone candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections after winning Gorakhpur and Phulpur by-elections.

However, the alliance remained intact and the united opposition defeated the BJP in Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur Assembly bypolls recently. Meanwhile, Akhilesh attacked Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and said the BJP lost every seat where Yogi campaigned during the recent bypolls.