Congress got a shot in the arm when tainted BJP ex-minister Badshah Singh and his wife Ratna Singh joined the party on Friday. Besides, former BSP MlA from Nanpara (Bahraich) Waris Ali also joined the Congress with his supporters.
``The joining of Singh and Ali will boost the party’s chances in the next UP Assembly polls,” said state Congress chief Raj Babbar, who along with Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari welcomed the two leaders.
Soon after joining the Congress, Badshah Singh said that he decided to quit the BJP after assessing that Rahul Gandhi was seriously working for the farmers. ``Waiving of agri-loans by former PM Manmohan Singh saved the lives of hundredd of farmers in Bundelkhand,” said the three-time MlA from Mahoba.
Meanwhile, maintaining that there have been no formal or informal talks with the Samajwadi Party on a pre-poll alliance, Raj Babbar hinted that the party was closer to the SP’s ideology than that of the BSP.
Chatting with media persons in lucknow on Friday, Babbar reiterated that the recent meeting between Prashant Kishor and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had nothing to do with alliance. “It was a personal meeting between the two. Besides, the high command has not authorised anyone for talks yet,” the Rajya Sabha member said,
“We cannot deny that SP was our ally at the Centre in 2004 and 2009. Besides, Gandhian ideology is closer to the lohia philosophy. In politics, nothing is impossible. Congress will always work with those with open minds and hearts. But till now, there have been no talks on alliance and Congress is preparing to contest all 403 seats,” he said.
On alliance of Congress with smaller outfits, Babbar said, “We have not broken our alliance with RlD yet in UP while we have a coalition government with JD (U) in Bihar. Both parties continue to be our allies.”
Announcing that the first list of party candidates could be released by November end, Babbar said that star campaigner Priyanka Vadra would extensively campaign ahead of the UP elections.
When asked if Congress leaders would attend SP’s foundation day function in lucknow on Saturday, the state Congress chief said,”let us first get the invitation. Only then can we decide on what to do.”
Expressing confidence that farmers and common people will support the party during the UP polls, Babbar said that Rahul Gandhi’s Kisan Yatra and other yatras by senior leaders have created much enthusiasm among the masses.
“Besides the party’s assurance on waiving off agri-loans, halving their power bills and raising MSP of agri-produce have evoked positive response from the masses,” said Babbar.
Commenting on a recent poll survey predicting a dismal perfromance by Congress, Babbar querried, “Did these surveys predict about landslide win of BSP in 2007, SP in 2012 and the BJP in 2014 lok Sabha polls. People have supported us during the yatras and it will be seen in the coming polls,” Babbar claimed.