Ready to cooperate with SP, BSP to beat BJP: Rahul Gandhi
Amethi, Jan 23 (IBNS): Days after the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party formed an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls by leaving the Congress party, its president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he is ready to cooperate with the two political parties of the state to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in whatever ways possible.
"I respect Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav. Our fight is against the BJP. We are ready to cooperate with them to defeat BJP in whatever ways possible," Gandhi told reporters.
Rahul Gandhi said his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia have been appointed as the outfit's general secretary in Uttar Pradesh on a mission.
Reacting to the appointment of Priyanka and Scindia as the general secretary of east and west Uttar Pradesh respectively, Rahul said: "Priyanka and Jyotiraditya have been appointed on a mission to establish Congress' ideology in Uttar Pradesh. I am personally happy for Priyanka as now my capable sister will work with me."
"Whether Priyanka will contest election or not is her personal decision," the Congress chief said when asked whether her sister will contest the 2019 General Elections.
The announcement came days after the Congress was kept out of an alliance by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh.
However, Rahul kept his option open to ally with the two parties saying, "I have no enmity with Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav. They have taken a decision. We are trying to reestablish our party in the state. We will cooperate with SP-BSP in future if there is a scope. Our common intention is to defeat BJP."
Congress President @RahulGandhi addresses the media in Amethi on the upcoming campaign for Uttar Pradesh & the general elections. #AmethiKiPragati pic.twitter.com/mLXcVaHzNT
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 23, 2019
Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rahul said the saffron brigade has got nervous after the appointments.
Priyanka, the daughter of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, is also a social worker.
Along with Rahul, the 47-year old leader had campaigned for the Congress during the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. In fact, Priyanka was instrumental in forming an alliance between the Congress and SP in the 2017 state polls.
UP at a glance:
Uttar Pradesh is a key state for the success in any General Elections as it consists of 80 Lok Sabha seats.
In the 2014 General Elections, the BJP and its allies had won 73 seats in the northern state, paving the way for Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister. The Congress had won just two seats.
Priyanka was also seen meeting people in Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies, which are held by Sonia and Rahul respectively.
Reacting to Priyanka's inclusion in the party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra has accused Congress of continuing dynasty politics.
Image: Congress Twitter
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