There was much hype about first joint press conference by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party national president and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav where Rahul stole the show and acted as Big brother but both leaders conveniently side stepped the tricky questions whose answers people wanted to know.
The questions like – what will happen to Congress campaign of “27 Saal UP behal” as 13 years of these 27 years was ruled by SP or whether actually Congress feel UP had progressed in that tenure.
Rahul probably knew he will face this question and he went on rhetoric: “We both are like Ganga and Yamuna and we have joined at a sangam to counter the BJP and RSS who are just promoting hatred and dividing the community on the name of religion and caste. Our hearts have joined to this alliance which will be in reckoning for the people of the state,” Rahul said.
To another question about the future of this alliance whether this will continue till 2019 where Rahul Gandhi will be projected as Prime Minister of the country, Chief Minister said: “You are asking futuristic question. We will decide when we cross the bridge.”
Akhilesh avoided the question because his father Mulayam Singh nurtures Prime Ministerial ambition and putting bet on Rahul could further deteriorate his relations with Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Though the leaders skipped all the questions related to the past governance of Akhilesh and about the UPA Rahul even did not give clear picture whether party president Sonia Gandhi or his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would campaign for the alliance or not.
“Priyanka has been of tremendous help to me and so have I. Whether she campaigns or not, it’s her choice. She is an asset to the Congress,” he said.
He also did not say anything over the seat sharing dispute in Amethi and Rae Bareli claiming that there is no such confusion. However, Akhilesh immediately commented,” we have blessings of our elders.”
Rahul commented ,” Yeh dil ka alliance hai, mil ke jeetenge (It is an alliance of heart, we will win together).”
However, when Akhilesh was asked why he went for an alliance when his party has given a slogan of ‘ Kaam Bolta Hai’, he was short of words and took to rhetoric saying: “ It is a peoples alliance. There is no doubt, we will win all the seats and development work will be faster now.”