Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has given a big blow to the hopes of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress by distancing himself from the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The SP leader is the second leader from the planned Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance to have ditched the Congress following Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati’s lead. Akhilesh Yadav had earlier expressed displeasure at the approach of Congress and had said that he wished that Congress would have a ‘bigger heart’. Akhilesh Yadav’s exodus from the grand alliance is a huge blow to the ambitions of Congress which has begun the campaigns in the state by roping in its president. Rahul Gandhi and his ‘Made in’ speeches have already started becoming memes on the internet, with every speech of his Rahul is deepening the pit for his party in the state. Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati have possibly realized that the boat of Congress is fast sinking and have chosen to abandon ship at the earliest.
The INC has followed the policy of use and throw since many years as far as regional and its alliance partners are concerned. Akhilesh and Mayawati seem to have realized this too while taking the decision to stay away from the Congress in the elections. Akhilesh Yadav clarified that his party will no longer wait for the Congress to make a call on a probable alliance for the fast approaching state assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The SP leader also expressed the hopes that BSP would now consider joining hands with his party for the polls considering the two are now out of the race to be coalition partners with the grand old party of India. Speaking to media at the party office, Akhilesh said, “Congress has wasted a lot of time… how long are we supposed to wait… now the election dates are about to be announced.. so now we will not wait any more.”
ANI quoted Akhilesh Yadav stating, “We will hold talks with BSP.” According to Akhilesh the party is already in talks with Dondwanan Gantantra Party (GGP) in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and is now seeking to join ranks with BSP as well. With BSP and SP both out of the equation the problems for Congress will further increase, it seems that both the parties have seen through the game of the Congress and are looking to find other ways to survive. If this behavior from SP and BSP continues in the 2019 General elections it would seal the fate of Congress in Uttar Pradesh. SP-BSP coalition without the Congress would mean a tri-party struggle in the state which would immensely benefit BJP, the distrust which has set in by now amongst the three parties is more than enough to continue this trend in the years to come. Madhya Pradesh elections are right around the corner and Mayawati had not only declined any possibility of an alliance with the INC but she also made some harsh remarks about the INC and criticized the local leadership of the INC. With Akhilesh Yadav coming strongly against the grand old party its fate in both Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh seems to be sealed, BJP will also benefit in the two states due to a tri-party fight. The biggest loser in this scenario will once again be the INC which will continue to lose probable coalition partners in other states as well, following the unceremonious exit of SP and BSP.