A pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh is key to defeating the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said at a meeting of Opposition parties held on Thursday.
Ironically, one of the key constituents of such an alliance, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), skipped the meeting without any explanation.
Sources said Mr. Gandhi made a brief speech at the end of the meeting, stressing the need for a pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha.
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In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 73 seats, the BSP drew a blank and the Samajwadi Party won five.
The BSP has surprisingly been missing from Opposition meetings. It was not present at the January 29 meeting in NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s residence.