With elections round the corner, Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi complimented each other as `good man’.
Recently launching his party’s election campaign in lucknow, Rahul Gandhi had termed Akhikesh Yadav as a good person.
On Thursday, Akhilesh reciprocated the gesture saying ‘Rahul as a good boy’ giving rise to speculations whether a new political liaison is in the offing in UP.
“Rahul Gandhi is a good boy. If he continues to come to and stay for longer time in UP, we can be friends. (Rahul ji bahut achche Insaan hain … bahut achche ladke hai … UP mein agar jyada rahenge to hamaari dosti unse achchi hogi). He is really a nice man,” Akhilesh said without elaborating on the usage of the term `dosti’.
“There should be no objection if two good people meet”, he said while talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting in lucknow on Thursday.
But the word ‘dosti’ could have many connotations especially if this statement comes from Chief Minister, who is also the state president of the ruling Samajwadi Party.
“Please do not read between the lines,” Yadav said when asked whether the SP and the Congress could forge an alliance before the elections.
Politically, the CM’s statement hints on a possible bobhoime between the Congress and the SP. Poll strategist Prashant Kishore wants to see the Congress back in the saddle and this can be actualised only if an alliance with the SP or the BSP could be forged.
Even as both major regional players have stressed on going it alone in 2017 UP polls, there are outide chances that Congress might forge a pre or post polls alliance with the ruling Samajwadi Party.
Congress legislature party leader Pradeep Mathur said that his party will have a role in the formation of the next government in UP. “We are coming to power – this much I can tell you at this time,” he said.
leaders of both Congress and SP were not ready to come on record to reveal future plans but the thaw in relations between Akhilesh and Rahul could see the emergence of a new equation in post poll UP.
Meanwhile, when asked about the ‘khaat loot’ in the aftermath of Rahul’s meeting in Deoria, the CM said ,” Had these cots been were taken away after a SP programme, the entire media would have screamed that SP goons had looted the cots.”
On a humorous note, Yadav said: “At least the bicycle (SP’s poll symbol) has come to the rescue of these people who took away the khaats.”
Asked about state minister Azam Khan’s controversial comments on Dr Ambedkar, Akhilesh said that the issue should not be politicised. “In UP, elections are nearing. No one should become ‘thekedar’ of a ‘mahapurush’ (great personality) and you should not allow it,” he said.
On the other hand, Urban Development minister Azam Khan condemned the BJP for demanding his resignation. “I don’t expect anything better from them. First, they should tell why they killed Bapu. They don’t believe in the Constitution and now they are talking about united India,” he told reporters.