Akhilesh Yadav patches up with estranged uncle Shivpal before UP polls

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday announced an alliance with his estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav’s Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia). The announcement came after a meeting between the SP chief and Shivpal at the latter’s residence in the afternoon. “Met national president of PSPL and finalised the alliance. The SP’s policy to take along regional parties is strengthening the party and take SP and its allies towards victory,” Akhilesh said in a tweet in Hindi after the meeting.