To go with SP or not Congress to wait and watch

There seems to be consternation within the Congress on the proposed Grand Alliance in Uttar Pradesh on the lines of Bihar. Speculation was rife after Congress strategist Prashant Kishor met with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in Delhi about a couple of days back. Congress Uttar Pradesh chief Raj Babbar on Thursday said, “Prashant Kishor is an excellent executor and team manager but no one has been authorised to speak to any party on behalf of the Congress.”

Mr Babbar also added that nobody from the Samajwadi Party had contacted them but the final call would be that of the Congress high command. Deep down the Congress is still unsure whom to speak to as far as the Samajwadi party is concerned. They are not keen to open channels with Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav. Also, they have doubts about the authority and power being wielded by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The Congress wants to wait and watch which way the crisis in the Samajwadi Party goes and then take a call. It also does not want to be seen wooing the Samajwadi Party as that would close all doors with the Bahujan Samaj Party. Initially, the Congress had made up its mind on going solo in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.