The Congress poster, which also describes its state president Ajay Rai as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2027, is an immature and juvenile response to the SP’s act that will only hurt the bigger objective of taking on the common political rival by the combined opposition INDIA alliance, a senior leader said adding that the state unit move obviously does not have sanction of the national leadership.
Responding to the poster, Samajwadi Party (SP) state spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan ‘Chand’ who had put up Akhilesh Yadav’s poster said it was their party which was fighting the battle of backwards, Dalits and minorities, so it did not matter how many posters the Congress put up as people wanted Yadav as the Prime Minister.
The large poster describing the Samajwadi Party chief as the ‘future Prime Minister’ put up on Monday by a party worker had generated a buzz in political circles.
The ruling BJP had described it as “Mungerilal ke hasin Sapne (a pipedream)” of Yadav’s associates and an attempt to put pressure on other members of the INDIA opposition grouping.
The Congress hoarding put up by party worker Nitant Singh Nitin carries the pictures of Rahul Gandhi and Ajay Rai with the slogan “2024 mein Rahul, 2027 mein Rai, desh-pradesh bol raha hai, haath ke saath aayen” (Rahul in 2024, (Ajay) Rai in 2027, both country and state are asking you to come in support of the hand (Congress symbol)).
Nitin, when asked about the banner, told a section of media that the banner only conveys the feelings of ordinary workers as the common people have begun to look up to the Congress in the state.
Nitin, who is said to be close to UPCC chief Rai said a direct contest between Congress and BJP is going to build up in the state in coming days and Rahul Gandhi will be the Prime Minister and Ajay Rai will become Chief Minister of the state.
Senior Congress leader Dwijendra Tripathi said the hoarding has been put up by a party worker and is an expression of what he and other workers feel. “This is often seen in politics, it is an expression of party workers’ feelings,” Tripathi said.
Reacting sharply, Samajwadi Party state spokesperson Hasan said, “Both the Congress and the BJP are the same and the Samajwadis have been saying this for long. Any party can put up posters as per their sentiment.”
“It is the Samajwadi Party which is fighting the battle of backwards, Dalits and minorities. No matter how many posters Congress puts up, the public wants Akhilesh Yadav to be the PM. When an SP chief becomes a PM, an SP leader will become the Chief Minister of UP. The vote share of Congress in UP is less than that of many regional parties,” Hasan said.
The poster put up by Hasan read, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes on his birthday to the future Prime Minister of the country, respected Akhilesh Yadav ji,” though Yadav’s official date of birth is July 1.
During the last few days, Akhilesh Yadav has publicly expressed his unhappiness with the Congress over the failure to arrive at a seat-sharing arrangement in Madhya Pradesh and had also referred to UPCC chief Ajay Rai as a “chirkut” (low-level) leader. The UPCC chief had tendered a public apology for his words.
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