SP not to field candidates against Sonia, Rahul

Even as suspense continues over alliance between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, the SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has said his party would not field candidates against the United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Mulayam, who was on a whirlwind tour of his village Saifai on Thursday, expressed hope of reaching a consensus with the Congress over seat sharing and said the party will not contest from the Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies represented by Sonia and Rahul respectively.

The SP supremo said in case the alliance fails to materialise on a few seats, the party will have a friendly fight with the Congress.

However, he parried questions regarding whether he will discuss the alliance issue with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi again.

In the last general elections held in 2004, the SP did not field its candidate from Amethi constituency, which was then represented by Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, in a goodwill gesture, the Congress too have said that it will not field candidates against Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav.

While Mulayam contested from Mainpuri parliamentary constituency, his son Akhilesh was elected from Kannauj seat in the last election.