Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav surprised everyone as he praised Rahul Gandhi on Thursday calling him a “good human being”. Yadav went on to say that he could forge a friendship with the Congress leader, setting off speculation about a political realignment in the state.
Rahulji bahut acche insan hain, bahut acche ladke hain. UP me jyada rahenge to hamari bhi dosti unse hogi...do acche log mil jaye to kya kharab baat hai? (Rahul is a good human being and a good boy. If he spends more time in UP, we could also be friends.. What’s wrong with two good human beings meeting?)
Rahul, who has been targeting the Centre during his ongoing ‘Kisan Mahayatra’ in the poll-bound state while only making veiled attacks on the SP government, had used similar encomium for Akhilesh while addressing Congress workers in Lucknow.
Look at the young Chief Minister here. Akhilesh theek ladka hai (he is a well-meaning boy) but his government isn’t working.
While Akhilesh suggested that the two young leaders could forge a “friendship” if Rahul spends more time in Uttar Pradesh, the CM ducked a question on whether his affability with Rahul meant a prospective pre-poll alliance with the Congress in the state.
Aap isme rajniti kyun dekh rahe hain? (Why are you seeing politics in it?)Akhilesh Yadav
SP-Congress Alliance, a Win-Win Situation
According to analysts, a SP-Congress alliance could be a win-win situation for both. SP will benefit from consolidation of Muslim as well as a section of Brahmin votes while Congress will benefit from the SP’s cadres and its grassroots workers, they point out.
Poll surveys indicate UP is likely to throw up a hung assembly. In this context, the Congress vote share of 8-10 percent can tilt the scales in favour of the SP. In 2007 and 2012, UP saw a predominantly two-way contest, and the party which secured 30 percent of the votes won. However, in 2017 there is a multi-cornered contest and 30 per cent vote share may not ensure victory for a party. That is where Congress’ vote share is crucial.
Samajwadi Party is in talks with smaller political outfits like Rashtriya Lok Dal and Quami Ekta Dal ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls. Congress hopes to get enough seats to ensure it remains in the game and hopefully be part of a post-poll alliance with Samajwadi Party or Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party.
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