File photo of Akhilesh Yadav. (PTI)

LUCKNOW: While formally announcing the SP-BSP alliance with Rashtriya Lok Dal on Tuesday, the national president of Samajwadi Party , Akhilesh Yadav , reiterated that Congress was very much a part of the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance).

Amid talk of forging greater Opposition unity in the post-Pulwama political scenario, Akhilesh kept his statement open-ended in reply to a query by saying, “Congress is also with the alliance as it’s contesting two seats Rae Bareli and Amethi .”

RLD president Ajit Singh’s son Jayant Chaudhary said his party would contest three western UP seats of Muzaffarnagar , Baghpat and Mathura , while the alliance would unitedly contest all 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

