Samajwadi Party had put up three candidates for Rajya Sabha as per the total strength of INDIA block in UP Assembly. The third candidate required only two votes extra but the eighth candidate of BJP ensured victory due to cross voting by seven SP MLAs.

Instead of being crestfallen, Akhilesh Yadav adopted aggressive posture and launched attack on those MLAs involved in cross voting and blamed pressure and money power for entire operation. Now Akhilesh Yadav will seek disqualification of seven SP MLAs who participated in cross voting in Rajya Sabha polls.

The SP president also took up the issue of CBI summons sent to him as witness in an old case of illegal mining. Akhilesh Yadav said that it was politically motivated as INDIA alliance between Congress and Samajwadi Party was getting massive response which was visible when he joined Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at Agra.

Akhilesh is back again in strengthening PDA alliance of backwards, dalits and minorities. He succeeded in bringing prominent BSP leader from Azamgarh Guddu Jamali to his party. It would be worth mentioning here Samajwadi Party lost Azamgarh Lok Sabha in bypolls due to votes polled by Guddu Jamali as BSP candidate.

Unlike Rajya Sabha where Akhilesh Yadav fielded two candidates from upper caste and only one dalit, Samajwadi Party will have to show in ticket distribution for Lok Sabha that PDA is very well accommodated.

If SP seeks votes from PDA, the party has to be prepared to share power with them. Now it is to be seen as to how Akhilesh Yadav conducts himself to get maximum votes from PDA. (IPA Service)