LUCKNOW: In their first joint appearance after the alliance between the Congress and SP, the scions of both the parties—Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav— came together to give a call for crushing the BJP's divisive politics of anger for the “progress, prosperity, peace and people” of Uttar Pradesh in the Assembly elections.
Some subtle dodging was also seen. When it was pointed out that the campaign launched by the Congress earlier carried the slogan '27 saal, UP behal' which was also against the SP, Rahul remarked "I had said Akhilesh is a good boy, but he wasn't allowed to work...his intentions have been good and we support that intention to transform the state."
The UP chief minister did not forget to mention the party’s “Cycle” symbol that he had won after a feud with his father Mulayam Singh. Terming Rahul and himself as two wheels of a bicycle, Akhilesh said "There is not much difference in ages between us and today is the beginning."
"Rahul and I will take the state ahead on the path of prosperity," he said at the hour-long press conference.
The Congress leader pointed out the partnership between Congress and SP is an answer to BJP's divisive politics of anger. "The alliance is the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna out of which the Saraswati of development will come out...We have similarities and opposition too. We want to contest the elections on similarities and will also have to do some compromises...," Rahul chipped in.
To questions whether Priyanka Gandhi will campaign for the alliance, Rahul said, "Priyanka (Gandhi) has been of tremendous help to me and so have I. Whether she campaigns or not, it's her choice. She is an asset to the Congress."
"Dimple is an MP, she will decide what she has to do," Akhilesh pointed out.
Out of the 403 assembly seats, Congress will be contesting in 105 and SP the rest 298 seats. With an aim to tell people that the two parties were their choice in the elections, Rahul and Akhilesh launched the poll campaign with a tagline – 'UP ko ye saath pasand hai' (UP relishes this alliance).
Rahul, however played safe on the Ram Temple issue saying he would not comment on it since it was a sub-judice matter.
He also played down certain unresolved issues like who will contest how many seats in Amethi and Rae Bareli, the stronghold of his party, terming them as peripheral issues. "This is a historic alliance...all leaders are working together for a goal which is to defeat fascist forces, RSS, BJP...
"Alliance for Lok Sabha polls is open for discussion," Rahul said to a question as to whether he will be the PM face in 2019 elections as Akhilesh is the CM face in 2017 polls.
Rahul, who took most of the questions, was also clear that though he admits the BSP government did commit mistakes but his respect for Mayawati and Kanshi Ram was intact and there can be no comparison between Mayawati and BJP.
"I respect Mayawatiji personally and Kanshiramji. BSP ran government and committed mistakes but the respect is intact... There is a lot of difference between BJP and BSP. BJP's ideology is harmful to country but Mayawati's ideology is not.
Do not compare Mayawatiji with RSS," he stressed.
Asked if BSP could also be taken along in the alliance against BJP, Akhilesh made a light-hearted comment, saying Mayawati whose symbol is elephant will require a lot of space.
To a question on Congress' earlier foray with BSP in the 1996 assembly polls, Rahul said "History is not static and keeps changing and saying that alliance in 1996 with BSP was wrong and so it will be wrong this time too...situation is different now and it is right strategically for the state, the country as well as for Samajwadis."
To a specific question as to whether Sonia Gandhi and Mulayam Singh Yadav will take part in electioneering, Rahul said "We will want all those who support our ideology to come with us", declining to divulge the campaign strategy.
(With PTI inputs)