LUCKNOW: Targeting the SP-BSP alliance, in which Ajit Singh's RLD is also a partner, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the "controller" of Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav is in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi was addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki in support of Congress candidate Tanuj Punia, son of senior party leader PL Punia.

Gandhi said it was the Congress which exposed the "real face" of Modi in the last five years whereas the SP and the BSP had failed to put a fight against him.

"The Congress brought in front of people the reality of Modiji while the SP and the BSP have failed to challenge him," Gandhi said.

The Congress chief also said Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav did not speak against Modi in the last five years because their "controller" is in hands.

"I am not scared of Modi. If someone is scared it's Modi. But the controlled of Akhilesh and Mayawati is in the hands of Modi. Remember this that Modi cannot put pressure on me but he can surely pressurise the SP and the BSP because they have a history while I don't have any," Gandhi said.

"In 2019, the Congress will defeat the BJP. Modi talked of Congress-free India and not SP-free or BSP-free India because he also knows it's only the Congress which challenges him," the Congress president told the gathering.

Gandhi's attack on the SP-BSP alliance comes a day after Mayawati threatened to "reconsider" continuing support to the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh after her party candidate from Guna Lok Sabha seat joined the Congress.

Last week, Akhilesh slammed the Congress party accusing it of having a "big ego" and also of threatening rivals.

Akhilesh and Mayawati kept the Congress out of their alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

The SP is contesting on 37 seats, the BSP on 38, and the RLD on three as part of a state-wide seat-sharing pact. However, the opposition alliance has decided not put up candidates on Amethi and Rae Bareli seats, traditionally held by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.