SP-Congress alliance will counter communal forces in UP: Akhilesh

Barabanki: Asserting that the Samajwadi Party`s pre-poll alliance with the Congress is aimed at defeating communal forces, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday in an indirect attack on his uncle and bete noire Shivpal Yadav said that some forces within the party made desperate attempts to create a feud between him and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav for vested interests.

"We allied with the Congress to defeat communal forces. We have a big heart. We want to form the government in the state," he said at a rally in Barabanki.

"The people have made me fight with my father Mulayam Singh for vested interests. The people demanding poll tickets were making us fight in the family," he added.

Akhilesh also took a dig at Mayawati`s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), saying uncontrollable elephant will do more damage to Uttar Pradesh.

The next five phases of polling will be held on February 19, 23, 27 and March 4 and 8 respectively. Counting of votes will be done on March 11.