No Alliance For UP Polls, Says Mulayam  

* Mulayam’s announcement comes in the wake of speculations that SP might forge an alliance.

* An alliance would be seen as a sign of weakness and is tantamount to accepting defeat even before elections.

* Once again, CM Akhilesh not around when Mulayam made announcement

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday said his party will not be part of any alliance in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

The announcement comes amid speculation of a possible grand alliance involving the Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party for the polls.

Flanked by younger brother and state unit chief Shivpal Singh Yadav, Mulayam Singh said if any party wanted to come along, they were welcome to merge their party into the Samajwadi Party.

He ruled out any alliance now or in the future.

"The party will not form an alliance with Nitish Kumar's JD-U nor with RJD," he said, adding that the ruling party in the state would contest the election on its own strength.

Samajwadi Party leaders have also had two meetings with Congress election strategist Prashant Kishore.