Congress sees silver lining in Maya’s remarks

Putting up a brave face, Congress on Wednesday saw a silver lining in BSP supremo Mayawati’s stinging remarks that her party will fight Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan alone.

“The leader of the BSP has expressed mutual respect and confidence vis-a-vis Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi,” Congress’ chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

Mayawati had hit out at senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, accusing him of being an RSS agent and denting the prospects of an alliance in Madhya Pradesh. Surjewala said the “most important” takeaway in Mayawati’s remarks was the confidence she had reposed in Rahul.

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“I think that is the most important issue rather than reading multiple meaning in the statement of Mayawati,” he said adding that all other creases can be ironed out once the top leaders share an “amicable, respectable and fruitful relationship.”

Surjewala made light of Mayawati’s remarks against Digvijaya Singh contending that some remarks are made in the flow of emotion. “Sometimes, some statements are given by leaders in an emotional flow,” he said.

Responding, Digvijaya Singh said that he has been a bitter critic of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, BJP and the RSS and he will follow Rahul Gandhi’s directions. “I have made it clear that I respect Mayawati ji & has been in favour of Congress-BSP alliance from the beginning. In Chhattisgarh, there were talks for alliance but she did not go for it. In Madhya Pradesh too there were talks of the alliance, but she has declared 22 candidates,” Singh said.