Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav.
– Photo : amar ujala
Expansion
The political meaning of SP President Akhilesh Yadav’s announcement of joining Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Amethi or Rae Bareli is being explored. It is believed that as a special strategy, Akhilesh has decided to participate in the Yatra only in those Lok Sabha constituencies where there is no confusion of any kind regarding the alliance. This is also considered important because at present Congress is not liking SP’s offer of 11 seats.
Congress’s Nyay Yatra will enter UP on 16 February. Chandauli will go to Bharatpur (Rajasthan) via 20 districts including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Allahabad and Agra. When Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge invited Akhilesh to join the yatra, the SP President agreed to join the yatra in Rae Bareli or Amethi.
Political sources say that out of 20 districts, these two districts have been selected very thoughtfully. Congress leaders have said in a public statement on SP’s offer of 11 seats that they are not aware of it. However, under the India Alliance, talks between the two parties are moving in a meaningful direction. It has become clear that Congress is neither considering the seat distribution as final nor does it agree with it. Besides, in the current political circumstances, not making statements in the media on this issue is also being said to be a part of its strategy. So that no negative message is sent to the public regarding the alliance.
Sources reveal that the SP leadership is also sensing the mood of the Congress very well. He is also not unaware of the discussions about his efforts to extend his hand towards BSP from time to time. A Congress leader close to the Gandhi family, requesting anonymity, also says that in UP, Congress is more willing to forge an alliance with BSP than any other party. Everything depends on the stance of BSP.
Overall, there is confusion regarding the alliance between SP and Congress, even though public claims are being made that the relationship is strong. In such a situation, Akhilesh chose those seats to participate in the yatra, where even SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav did not field candidates in support of Congress. Akhilesh has also talked about maintaining this tradition. That means there is no confusion regarding the alliance at both these places. Similarly, Congress has also been following the tradition of not fielding its candidates against SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav.