Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday (04 December) suggested that an alliance with Congress is possible in an arrangement where Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi his Deputy.
Akhilesh made the comments in the course of a conversation at an event here in the presence of the Congress vice president. However, Rahul refused to comment when asked to respond.
"If Mulayam Singhji is Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi is Deputy Prime Minister, I will say yes to the alliance right now," said the 45-year-old, smiling. He repeated the answer when asked about the polls in Uttar Pradesh due in 2017.
The 42-year-old chief minister of India's most populous state asserted that any relationship with the BJP or any of its associate organisations was not possible "because of the kind of divisions they produce and the language they use."
He, however, sidestepped a question on whether an alliance with its rival BSP, like the one in Bihar where JD(U) and RJD came together, is possible in UP for the 2017 Assembly polls.
"Her (Mayawati) choice is that stone made elephant statues come up. So how is that possible? I have already told you my formula," was Akhilesh's response, referring to his conditions for a possible alliance with Congress.
Asked about the "inefficiency" of the state's law and order machinery in preventing the Dadri lynching, Akhilesh said it was because of the government's efforts that the "situation did not go out of control the way a section wanted".
BW Reporters
Haider Ali Khan is an alumnus of IIMC. He holds a degree in English Journalism from the prestigious campus. His passion includes Aviation, Technology, Politics and Sports.
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