With mere days left for the first phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has extended support to the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh. The CPI(M), said party leader Sitaram Yechury on Friday, was to mobilise secular forces against the Hindutva agenda. Without naming parties, the politician also said that the CPI(M) would “support the party that can defeat BJP” in Punjab too. 

“We will support Samajwadi Party in UP elections. We’re only contesting from only four seats in UP. In Punjab, we will support the party that can defeat BJP,” the former Rajya Sabha MP said during a press conference in Delhi. 

Earlier reports had suggested that the CPI(M) had identified six seats in eastern Uttar Pradesh from which to field candidates. While the party had previously spoken about the possibility of stitching together an alliance with the SP, no formal announcement has been made to this effect to date. 

Speaking to the media on Friday, Yechury added that the “primary task” was to defeat the BJP. “The party will also support joint platforms of united actions of the class and mass organisation,” he said.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav meanwhile insists that the upcoming election is about “brotherhood versus BJP”. The remarks were made during a joint press conference with his alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Friday.

“Elections for the 403 seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly will take place in seven phases, with votes being counted on March 10. The first phase polling will be held on February 10, the second phase on February 14, the third phase on February 20, the fourth phase on February 23, the fifth phase on February 27, the sixth phase on March 3, and the seventh phase on March 7.