Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav end rivalry, share dais at rally

BSP supremo Mayawati and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav ended their decades-long rivalry and came together at an election rally in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh on Friday.

The two leaders addressed the gathering at the Lok Sabha constituency of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mulayam welcomed Mayawati and said he was happy to share the stage with her. He also asked his supporters and the people assembled at the rally to respect Mayawati as she has always been there for support.

Mayawati urged people to vote to defeat the Congress and the BJP. She slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told the crowd that the PM does not have any concern for people of backward classes.

Mulayam and Mayawati have been political rivals since 1995 when the Bahujan Samaj Party chief withdrew support from the SP. She and her supporters, who were camping at the UP state guest house, were allegedly attacked by SP supporters.

An SP leader said that the rally and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance would send out a message to their political opponents about their strong bond.