Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid today termed the alliance between the grand old party and the Samajwadi Party for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls as ‘historic’.
“We listened to the voice of people. It is a historic decision,” Khurshid said while speaking at India TV’s Chunav Manch conclave in Lucknow.
The BJP was quick to respond, terming it a ‘survival stunt’ by both the parties.
“Samajwadi Party and the Congress will have to search for their existence after the polls. They have joined hands for survival,” senior BJP leader Jagdambika Pal said.
Taking a jibe at Pal, Khurshid said: “People change with time. But time is with us (Samajwadi Party and Congress). It is Jagdambika Pal’s obligation to defend the BJP which he joined after quitting the Congress.”
Of the 403 Assembly seats, the Congress is contesting 105 seats whereas the ruling party is fielding candidates on 298 seats.
Pal also skirted the question on why the BJP chose against projecting anyone as its CM candidate in the polls.
“We didn’t project a face in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Haryana. Face is not a big issue. The day BJP is voted to power in UP, our MLAs will sit together and with mutual consensus they will decide who will lead the state,” the BJP leader said.
The leader also promised uninterrupted power supply across the state if the BJP forms government.
“Wherever BJP is in power, we are supplying 24*7 electricity. We will also deliver uninterrupted power in UP,” Pal said.
Samajwadi Party leader Naved Siddiqui, who was also on the panel, expressed confidence that people will vote in favour of the alliance to take the state ahead on the path of development.
“Our works are visible on ground. We are not in the books like others,” he said, adding that ‘people are supporting our CM Akhilesh Yadav because of the works he has done for the state’.
“We are getting full public support, this is visible to all,” he opined.
Reacting to the family feud in state’s first family, he said, “The rift is an internal matter of the family. It shouldn’t be dragged outside.”
He also took the opportunity to slam BSP supremo Mayawati who has been attacking CM Akhilesh Yadav in the name of development.
“Mayawati has accepted that UP has moved ahead on the path of development under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership. In her press conferences, Mayawati is now announcing that the BSP, if voted to power, will not concentrate on parks or statues anymore. This is certification in itself from her that Akhilesh Yadav has done development in UP,” he said.
He further accused the BSP supremo of making ‘hollow’ promises and playing the religious card to woo voters.
Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of the country, will have seven-phased polling between February 11 and March 8. Results will be declared on March 11.
