Prayagraj,

Sept 28 (HS): “The BJP and RSS are deceiving people by claiming that the

Congress and SP alliance would split apart, which is bogus propaganda and lacks

any substance. They are infact living in a fools' paradise. Our alliance is

getting stronger and we are fighting upcoming bypolls together. In Uttar

Pradesh, the SP-Congress combination became a sponge, soaking up people's

unhappiness with the BJP and Modi. It was successful in presenting itself as a

credible and inclusive option to the OBCs, Dalits, and minorities. Rahul

Gandhi's promise of social justice and inclusion must become the foundation of

the Congress's resurrection. The Congress Party is rekindling its relationship

with the voters by marginalizing change-resistant leaders and cultivating a new

cadre reflecting of India's varied population.

This radical move would not only

increase the party's appeal among marginalized populations, but it would also

demonstrate a genuine commitment to solving their plights and ambitions,” said

senior Congress leader, Shekhar Bahuguna while interacting with mediapersons on

Saturday, a day before the arrival of LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to attend a 'Samvidhan

Samman Sammelan' in Prayagraj (Allahabad).

Replying

to media queries, he said, “During the just finished 2024 Lok Sabha elections

in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress engineered a remarkable performance, getting

more votes than the BSP while competing in less than one-fourth of the seats

and winning six. The Lok Sabha elections have brought forth several changes. We

have been able to regain a portion of Dalit and OBC votes, which are critical

in UP politics, and the minority community (Muslims) is also looking to us.

Seeking seats from SP, which were with the BJP and allies is not an unreasonable

demand.” The party has already dispatched coordinators from each of the ten

seats to the field to examine the situation,” he added.

“The

SP believes it has a better chance in Phulpur, but the Congress is optimistic

in resurrecting its strong link with the region, which was earlier represented

in the Lok Sabha by Jawaharlal Nehru, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, and Hemvati Nandan

Bahuguna. We want the bypoll constituencies divided equally. Apart from the

Khair and Ghaziabad assembly seats, which the BJP won two years ago, we also

want the other seats that the NDA won in 2022: Phulpur, which the BJP won,

Manjhwan, which went to the NISHAD Party, and Meerapur, which went to Union

Minister Jayant Chaudhary's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). We have made a suggestion

to contest five seats with the BJP and its partners. The remainder is up to the

party leadership to determine,” he said, citing new ground realities.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi