Priyanka Gandhi will come, details will be decided later: Raj Babbar

Amid talks of the Congress exploring an alliance in UP, the party’s state chief Raj Babbar tells ET in an interview that it’s best to wait and watch. He also put to rest the debate over role for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying she will definitely come in at the right time. Excerpts:

Will Priyanka campaign in UP?
Of course it will happen. Priyankaji had earlier also helped us. She will definitely come in at the right time. The details will be known later.

Is Congress discussing alliance with the Samajwadi Party?
I am not aware of any such thing. AICC in-charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad too doesn’t know about any such talks. I was with Rahulji also. I still don’t know about any such thing.

Is some alliance being considered?
As on date, there is no such thing. RLD is our old associate and we will see whether or not to stay with them. We will think four times before allying with BSP…till a few days ago, their leader said their vote was diverted to BJP in 2014. We have to be very careful. Then there is this party (refering to SP) that can’t decide who is bigger in the family trust. It’s best only to watch.

A political upheaval is on and it is too early to say who we want to ally with and who would want to ally with us. That is the truth. There are people who will keep saying something or the other to stay in news. I can just walk to meet Mulayam Singhji who stays across the road and call some media persons to make news. I have to do nothing. It’s very easy. We cannot dare to do this kind of thing. We have to be serious.

There are reports of Prashant Kishor meeting Mulayam Singh...
Strategy is made by the party leadership. He is a very intelligent person and he is giving us lot of ideas on how to go to people. We appreciate it and we are glad he is with us. He is an independent man, can go to anybody, talk to anybody, may be tomorrow he will come with some idea which I don’t know. But that mandate is not a Congress mandate, or at least I can clearly say- the UP Congress mandate. The guideline will come from Rahulji.

Will Rahul’s elevation as Congress President have an impact on UP?
There is a demand for it all over, not just in UP. We think it is time to do it. There is an extended Congress Working Committee meeting on 7th, let us see what is decided.

Rahul had invested time in UP in 2012 as well just like this time. How will it yield a different result?
Last time, we were very critical of the government. Rahulji did create the ‘maahaul’ but the issues were not there. Unity was there on the ‘manch’ but not visible on ground. This time we have tried to raise and also give answers to problems- whether it is the farmer loan-waiver issue or employment. We has delivered earlier and want to do so again. Rahulji’s connect with people has given us a lot of confidence.

And do you see any difference on ground this time?
Yes I do. In 2007, BSP got a big mandate, in 2012 SP got an even bigger mandate. In 2014, 73 Lok Sabha seats were bagged by another party. But what did people get in return? Today, the SP government’s Vikas Rath stopped on Lohia path within a kilometer of the start. It is very symbolic.

Is Rita Bahuguna’s exit a setback?
It is no setback. Why don’t you ask the BJP what they have gained? It was her own insecurity, in her seat Mulayam Singh’s daughter in law is expected to contest. What else could the party have given her?