UP Congress will not use Rahul for by-polls

In a bid to regain its past glory and rejuvenate the party workers, the Congress has embarked upon a plan to utilise the services of its star campaigner and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi in a big way in Uttar Pradesh.

"We are preparing an exhaustive plan to use Rahul Gandhi in the state in the days to come," AICC general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Satyavrat Chaturvedi told PTI in Lucknow on Thursday.

"Rahul will not remain confined to Amethi and Rae Bareli but will tour the state extensively," he said expressing confidence that it would go a long way in strengthening the party at the grassroots level.

But the son of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi would not be campaigning actively in the forthcoming by-polls for one Lok Sabha and 12 Vidhan Sabha seats in the state since 'the Congress does not normally use its central leaders in by-elections'.

Chaturvedi said that Rahul would play a crucial role in reactivating party cadres in the state. "Rahul is the only person who can give a befitting reply to those indulging in politics of caste and religion as he enjoys the support of people from every section of society," he said.

On its testy relationship with its coalition partner, he said it is the era of coalition politics and every party had its own agenda and ideology.

Also Read Law & order bad in UP: Sonia I was misquoted on Mulayam: Rahul

The Congress leader justified his party's agitational programmes despite supporting the ruling coalition from outside saying that as a political party it is duty-bound to highlight the plight of the people.

The Congress extended outside support to the Yadav government to keep communal forces' away from power.

Alleging that the law and order situation in the state was very bad, the Congress leader said that the ongoing acute power shortage had adversely affected the farmers and common people.

He regretted the lack of a coordination panel to ensure that there is no communication gap among the alliance partners and alleged that the ruling party is not interested in setting up such a panel.

The Congress leader alleged that there was a tacit understanding between the SP and BJP and cited instance of 'clean chit' given by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the government in the case of police lathicharge on lawyers.

But "no useful purpose will be served by withdrawing support (to the Mulayam Singh Yadav government) unless we are in a position to offer a viable alternative." Hence, the Congress is aiming to strengthen itself at the grassroots level.

Chaturvedi claimed the Congress would spring surprises upon its opponents in the forthcoming by-elections by not only retaining Iglas and Ghaziabad assembly seats but also wresting some others from its opponents.