UP DISPATCH. ‘We’re two wheels of the same cycle’

A hug, handshake and bouquet-exchange preceded a day-long show of bonhomie between new-found allies Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister claiming they were “two wheels” of the ‘Cycle’ (his party’s election symbol).

Although the junior partner in the alliance, Rahul dominated the media conference, which also featured a smattering of clever repartees by Akhilesh.

Akhilesh sought to balance the power equation with the Congress leader with his “two-wheels-of-the-cycle” and “we’re almost the same age” comments.

Though the junior partner in the alliance, Rahul seemed to dominate the show, answering most of the questions while Akhilesh took the back seat. However, there was clearly an attempt to showcase their friendship. Rahul tapped Akhilesh’s arm several times during the press conference and revealed that they were in constant touch even during the peak of their differences during the alliance formation. “Akhilesh and I have known each other and we share a bond,” Rahul said.

This was the launch of a joint campaign by the alliance, in which the SP is contesting 298 seats and the Congress 105. They hope to consolidate the minority vote, draw the support of the SP’s traditional Yadav and other OBC voters, besides attracting the upper castes through the Congress’ vestigial appeal. With supporters of both partiescrowding a ten-kilometre stretch in Lucknow’s busiest localities, Rahul and Akhilesh held a road show with the slogan “UP ko yeh saath pasand hai (This alliance is the choice of UP)”.

Praise for Maya, BSP Rahul’s praise for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and founder-ideologue Kanshi Ram, which came as a surprise, was perceived in political circles as an overture towards Dalits, who have hitherto been a strong support base for the Congress.

“The BSP may have committed mistakes in running a government but I personally respect Mayawati ji just as I respect Kanshi Ram ji . There can be no comparison between the BJP and the BSP. The BJP’s ideology is harmful to the country but Mayawati ji ’s ideology is not,” Rahul said.

However, to answer a question on the BSP being a partner in the alliance, Akhilesh said, “Where is the space for her? To accommodate the elephant (BSP’s election symbol), you require a lot of space.”

Rahul said the Congress and SP are “natural” allies in their joint fight against “Fascist, divisive and sectarian BJP”. Rahul said the alliance was a “secular” force against “ krodh aur nafrat ki rajniti (politics of anger and hatred)” that the BJP practices. “I will use Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s terms. I’ll say our alliance is a Tripe P – Progress, Prosperity and Peace,” said a smiling Rahul while Akhilesh said, “I will add another P to this – that of the People who forced us to align with each other.”

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