Lok Sabha Elections: Rahul hints Congress may fight solo in UP, says "don't underestimate us"

Rahul's remark comes days after Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav joined hands giving a cold shoulder to the grand old party, terming it an "insignificant force" in the state.

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav (L) with Congress President Rahul Gandhi. AFP IMAGE/ FILE

New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi has hinted that Congress will be contesting elections solo in Uttar Pradesh, days after Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav joined hands giving a cold shoulder to the grand old party, terming it an "insignificant force" in the state. In an interview to Gulf News, Rahul Gandhi said that it will be a “big mistake” to underestimate Congress in the state, clearly referring to the SP-BSP electoral alliance. Rahul said that there were many interesting things the party could do in Uttar Pradesh. He said he was confident of party’s ability and the results can surprise all. The SP and BSP have forged an electoral alliance for the upcoming national polls and have snubbed Congress leaving only Amethi and Raebareli constituencies for it. Amethi and Raebareli are represented in Lok Sabha by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi respectively. It is being said that the SP-BSP alliance will not field any candidate against Sonia and Rahul in the two seats. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, both SP and BSP have provided support to the Congress government. Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to leave for Dubai on January 11. Within Congress, one camp of leaders wants the party to go solo in the polls, while there is yet another camp which wants it to forge alliance. Party’s state unit chief Raj Babbar who looks up to alliance said that BJP will benefit if party goes solo. While, Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Pratap Singh believes that the party will win on more seats if it contests alone. In 2017, Congress and SP had contested assembly election together but they tasted a huge debacle. Taking a lesson from previous result, SP has already given shape to an alliance with BSP and RLD and division of seats has also been finalised. Congress had won on 21 seats in 2009. After farm loan-waiver, farmers had voted in large number for the party. But in the last Lok Sabha polls, Congress won on 2 seats in the state, 5 MPs were elected from SP, while no BSP candidate could win.