“We do not need to fight any individual... we have to fight for the cause of the people...we have to fight poverty,” Rahul said while addressing the meeting of the UP Congress Coordination Committee here.

In his brief speech, Rahul said that Congressmen must “move to the villages and visit every household”. Peoples’ faith in the Congress is returning as was visible in the recent Lok Sabha polls, he added.

Although Rahul did not speak to the media nor was the media allowed inside, party sources said that the young Congress MP stressed the need for evolving a “new equation” — of development — in UP which alone could defeat the casteist and communal forces.

Referring to the recent alleged ‘derogatory remarks’ made by the state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi against Chief Minister Mayawati, Rahul, in a terse message to the party leaders and workers, asked them not to indulge in “personal vilification campaign”.

However in a bid to placate the partymen and playing a balancing game, he also condemned the arson at Joshi’s house. A resolution was also adopted at the meeting condemning the incident.

Speaking to reporters after the meet, Congress general secretary and UP in-charge Digvijay Singh said that the issue of formation of a Bundelkhand Development Authority was also discussed at the meeting.

“The Authority will in no way curtail the rights of the states...there is a provision in Article 263 of the Constitution for forming such authorities,” he claimed rubbishing opposition to the authority.

Singh also welcomed the Election Commission notice to the Mayawati government on erecting of statues of elephants (BSP election symbol).

He alleged that Mayawati was not bothered about providing relief to the drought affected people but busy in erecting statues and parks with public funds.