2019 polls: Congress set to go alone in UP?

Lucknow: The Congress now seems inclined towards contesting the Lok Sabha elections on its own in Uttar Pradesh.

A large section of the party feels that if the SP-BSP combine offers them four of five seats, it would be better if the party contested on its own.

Reports suggest that the BSP will take no less than 40 seats from UP while the Samajwadi Party will lay its claim to 39 seats—it has eight seats in Lok Sabha and came second in 31. The SP is ready to concede five seats for RLD and other allies that leave Congress almost out of the picture.

“Till now, no party in UP has spoken to us about the alliance. We are open to the idea but there has to be a respectable seat sharing. We may not have done well last time but other factors must be taken into consideration”, said a senior AICC leader while talking on phone.

While a section of the UP Congress leaders are keen on an alliance with SP and BSP, a large section of party workers are opposed to it.

“We have to learn to stand on our feet and cannot play junior partners to regional forces all the time. The SP and BSP do not have a presence outside UP and they cannot dictate terms to the Congress. We have already hit rock bottom and if we declare candidates now, there is no reason why we cannot substantially increase our tally in 2019”, said a district president.

UPCC president Raj Babbar, when contacted, said, “Since we are looking at the Lok Sabha elections, the issue of alliances will be decided by the party high command. It is the Congress president who will take a view in national perspective and we will follow it”.

Asked about his opinion, Mr Babbar said, “I will communicate my opinion, if asked, to the party high command. We will all work together to oust communal forces”.

Majority of the Congressmen are irked over the fact that both, SP and BSP, want to project their leaders as prime ministerial candidates and are conveniently ignoring the presence of Mr Rahul Gandhi.

“Congress is the biggest party in the opposition with a pan-India presence.  Parties with few seats or even no digits are aim for the top post. With such a mindset, alliances will not last long”, said a former UPCC president.

Meanwhile, sources said that a meeting of  senior Congress leaders would be convened by party president Rahul Gandhi soon.

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