Congress charts its solo expedition in UP for 2019 Lok Sabha polls

By FnF Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 12, Jan 2019, 18:54 pm IST | UPDATED: 12, Jan 2019, 18:57 pm IST

Lucknow: with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bhaujan Samaj Party (BSP) leaving the Congress out from their pre-poll alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Congress has started charting its own strategy of going solo in the upcoming general election.

Congress will roll out its 'Mission Uttar Pradesh' in the first week of February. Party president Rahul Gandhi will address 10 public meetings and will also visit Prayagraj (Allahabad) during the Ardh Kumbh Mela.

Announcing their alliance, BSP chief Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav today said the two parties will contest on 38 seats each in Uttar Pradesh. They have left four seats for the Congress and others. Uttar Pradesh has a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats.

The announcement comes as a setback for the Congress which has been galvanising regional parties to form a grand alliance to counter the BJP. The Congress had formed an alliance with the SP in the 2017 assembly polls. It had an informal understanding with the BSP for a number of assembly and parliamentary bypolls. At present, the BSP is giving outside support to the Congress government in Rajasthan. Similarly, the SP has extended outside support to the Congress in Madhya Pradesh.

Speaking to India Today TV about the party's plans in Uttar Pradesh, a senior Congress leader said, "We are going to fight on all seats. Rahul Gandhi's rallies are being planned. Most probably, his first public meeting will be in Lucknow."

Congress sources said that before leaving for the UAE, Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with key leaders in Uttar Pradesh. It was called to discuss preparations for the Lok Sabha elections.

They said that Rahul Gandhi has held talks with the state Congress leadership and have zeroed in on the seats where the party's prospects are strong. The probable list of candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls is being deliberated.

The central leadership has already asked the state unit to set up a war room and strengthen the party at booth level.

Senior Congress leader from UP, PL Punia said, "The state unit has launched a massive exercise to reach out to party workers at the booth level and also the general public. We will spring back and surprise everyone."

Congress general secretary and in-charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad is touring the state and will be meeting district and city-unit presidents.