Congress keeps post-poll alliance options open in Uttar Pradesh

Keeping the option of post-poll alliance open, the Congress party has ruled out of imposing President’s rule on the state in case of a hung Assembly after the results are declared.

There have been talks of post-poll tie up between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party as both sides are making all efforts to dislodge the Mayawati government. However, Digvijay Singh, Congress in-charge of party affairs in UP indicated that President’s rule can be clamped down in the state if there’s no clear mandate.

“If we are not able to come in majority then there will be a President’s rule in the state," Singh said while interacting with mediapersons in UP. His statement was followed by the remarks of Congress chief in UP — Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who said, "Whenever there is a hung Assembly, several possibilities do come up... and the possibility of President's rule cannot be ruled out."

However, statements of UPCC chief and Singh who is considered to be the political mentor of Rahul Gandhi were brushed aside by the Congress party. Asserting that the remark of Singh should not be misconstrued, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: “You must not forget the first premise of Digvijay Singh's statement and that is purely hypothetical and imaginary.”

A senior Congress leader considered close to 10, Janpath also downplayed the remarks of both the Congress leaders. “I think that Digvijay Singh has made this statement in the course of conversation and not with a serious intent,” the leader said.

Another Congress leader told Deccan Herald that the party is looking at UP elections not only to provide relief to the party in the state, where it has been out of power since 1989, but also at the Centre by keeping its doors open for a post-poll alliance, especially with the Samajwadi Party.

The leader said: “Tie up with SP having 22 MPs in Lok Sabha will provide respite to Congress at the Centre in the wake of escalating tension with Trinamool Congress, which has 19 MPs in the Lower House of the Parliament.”

Same is the view of Samajwadi Party, which is desperate to dislodge Mayawati government in country’s biggest and most populous state. “At the moment, we’re concentrating on campaigning intensely to free people from corrupt BSP government. This is something that we will see after results are declared,” said a family member of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, when Deccan Herald asked him the possibility of a post-poll tie up with Congress.