Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav will visit Gujarat on April 21 to campaign for a newly formed non-BJP, non-Congress front ‘Progressive Front’ in the state.
Five leading political parties including Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (U), CPI, CPI (M) and Socialist Party have come together to form a ‘third’ front under the name of ‘Progressive Front’. The move is aimed at taking on Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the state - home state of BJP's PM nominee Narendra Modi.
“All five parties have decided to contest polls in Gujarat and to elect a non-Congress and non-BJP government. We are looking forward to issue-based campaigning,” said Chhotubhai Vasava.
The SP leader, Yadav will hold a public meeting near Patan in North Gujarat on April 21. Other SP leaders including Azam Khan and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav are also slated to visit the state before the poll date. Gujarat’s 26 Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls in single phase on April 30.
As per the understanding, the parties will not field candidates against each other in Gujarat. JD (U) plans to contest on 11 seats from the state. So far, the party has appointed candidates on four seats.
Jadav Ambalala Kanabhai to run from Vadodara, Prafullbhai Vasava from Chhota Udaypur (reserved), Jagat Singh Vasava from Bardoli, Kioshore Bhati Chhotu Bhai Vasava from Surat and Shailesh Patel from Valsad.