Akhilesh Yadav, UP Congress leaders both oppose poll alliance

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and the state Congress have one thing in common now: they are both opposed to an alliance with each other.

The chief minister met political strategist Prashant Kishor on Monday on the instructions of his father and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, but sources close to the CM said Akhilesh was not keen on an alliance and felt Mr Kishor was being foisted on the party by Amar Singh.

“Akhilesh Yadav is not keen on giving away seats in any alliance. He has done tremendous work and every seat has potential for us. When we are working towa-rds forming a majority government, why should we tread the coalition path ” asked a minister close to the chief minister.

However, the CM told reporters on Monday that the party president’s decision on this would be final and that he would place his views before the party forum.

The Congress in Uttar Pradesh, meanwhile, is on the boil and a signature campaign was initiated on Monday by leaders opposed to an alliance with the Samajwadi Party. UPCC secretary Sunil Rai has written a letter to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, asking him to rein in Mr Prashant Kishor. Some leaders also initiated a signature campaign asking the party high command not to forge any alliance at this juncture. “Our campaign ‘27 saal, UP behaal’, focuses on the misrule of the SP and BSP governments, and if we opt for an alliance with either of these two, the people will stop trusting us. We will have to walk alone... we may stumble once or twice but finally we will walk on our own,” said a senior party leader.

UP Congress leaders feel one wrong step now will cost the party dearly in the 2019 general election. A former UPCC chief said: “An alliance with SP or other parties will spell doom for the Congress in 2019. Prashant Kishor is trying to create an illusion that he is negotiating with the SP on behalf of the Congress, which is demoralising party workers. The Rahul Sandesh Yatras have slowed down, and party workers are calling us from all corners of the state, wanting to know the position. The party high command should clarify the situation at the earliest.”

The SP leadership has also sensed the mood of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and state party chief Shivpal Yadav, who is normally forthcoming on such issues, and is now trying to avoid the subject of alliances. “We will let you know if anything materialises,” a party leader said on Monday.