Mayawati 'Thanks' Rahul Gandhi For Bharat Jodo Yatra Invite, Akhilesh 'Wishes Success' But Will Skip Event
Both regional parties - Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - on Monday expressed gratitude for being invited to join the UP leg of the Yatra and wished it a success.
The Congress party's attempts to unite non-BJP opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2024 election through its 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' do not appear to be bearing fruit. Both regional parties - Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) - on Monday expressed gratitude for being invited to join the UP leg of the Yatra and wished it a success without elucidating their intention to participate in it.
Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, hailed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday for inviting him to his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and wished it success, news agency PTI reported.
"Thanks for the invitation to the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra,' and best wishes for the success of the 'Bharat Jodo' effort," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said in a letter to Rahul Gandhi.
“India is a feeling which is beyond geographical expansion, where there is love, non-violence, emotions, co-operation and bonhomie — the positive elements, which unite India," further reads the letter.
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 2, 2023
Rajendra Chaudhary, the SP's spokesperson, stated that neither Yadav nor any other party leader will take part in the yatra. Speaking with PTI, Chaudhary stated: “Akhilesh will not participate in the yatra and there is nil possibility of any other leader of the party going there."
The Congress leadership had advanced invitations to former Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Dr. Dinesh Sharma, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhury, BSP chief Mayawati, BSP general secretary SC Mishra, SP MLA Shivpal Yadav, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief OP Rajbhar, and CPI general secretary Atul Anjan to join the UP leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Mayawati, the leader of the BSP, also used Twitter to express her gratitude for the letter inviting her to participate in the Yatra and sent her best wishes for its success.
“Best wishes for the “Bharat Jodo Yatra" and thanks to Rahul Gandhi for writing a letter to me to take part in the yatra," Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi.
’’भारत जोड़ो यात्रा’’ के लिए शुभकामनायें तथा श्री राहुल गांधी द्वारा इस यात्रा में शामिल होने की लिखी गई चिट्ठी के लिए उनका धन्यवाद।
— Mayawati (@Mayawati) January 2, 2023
Previously, RLD stated that Jayant Chaudhury will not participate in the yatra since he would not be in India during that period. On the other hand, Akhilesh dismissed the alleged invitation as mere hearsay, and Mayawati denied receiving it as well. Akhilesh has even compared the Congress to the BJP, claiming that they were two sides of the same coin.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
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