Congress brass opens debate on alliance option in Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI: Even as influential Congress leaders favour Rahul Gandhi’s take-over as Congress president before the Uttar Pradesh and Punjab polls, the party leadership has started considering the pros and cons of joining the ‘anti-BJP’ alliance mooted by the SP leadership.

After keeping alliance seekers tactically engaged, a section of seniors are now showing ‘pragmatic flexibility’ to look at options beyond fighting polls alone, while emphasising that Congress won’t give in ‘cheaply’ to suitors.

Congress’ hitherto opposition to alliance were rooted in arguments that it will nip the Rahul-led UP ‘revival’ and Congress would have to share the burden of anti-incumbency that would lead to weaken its long-term interest and leading to its further marginalisation in the state ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.





Internal feedback from UP indicates Congress would fare poorly if it goes alone. BJP has also managed to polarise voters after the surgical strike and triple talaq discourse that could see Muslims rallying behind BSP and SP than Congress. BSP playing hard to get for an alliance too has limited Congress’ options.

Sources stressed the internal debate in Congress is not connected with the attempts of hired campaign manager Prasant Kishor is indulging with SP camp. “While Kishor may be more worried about future of his commercial brand, the prime concern for us is what is the best option for the Congress’ political interests in UP”, said a leader.

There is an emerging view that if SP allocates 100 seats it could be a decent deal as the Congress is actually focusing only in about 100-150 seats. A crushing setback for Congress in the solo fight could badly hurt Rahul Gandhi at a critical juncture of his leadership and the tactical shelter of an alliance would help, leaders who favour an alliance argue.

Further, faced with aggressive approach of the Modi government and the BJP-RSS combine, being part of an ‘anti-BJP secular alliance’ in UP, after Bihar, can tactically strengthen Congress’ plot to revive pre-2004 the ‘anti-BJP national secular alliance’ theme ahead of the next LS polls. These leaders also do not see possibility of a Mulayam-Akhilesh split before polls.