“Mayawati hatao, UP bachao” is going to be the Congress’ campaign theme for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The party is expected to give a call for “halla bol” against corruption in the administration at a Phulpur rally to be addressed by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Monday.
The Congress party, wanting to change the “political grammar” of Uttar Pradesh influenced by caste, religion and regional spirit, is optimistic that corruption issue would give it dividends in the electoral battle. Chief minister Mayawati is on the defensive despite her party’s vote bank being intact.
The Congress party, which is organisationally weak as compared with the BSP, the Samajwadi Party and even the BJP, is pegging its hope on star campaigner Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Saturday hit out at Ms Mayawati for her remarks against Mr Rahul Gandhi accusing her of “misusing maximum funds” given by the Centre in constructing parks and erecting statues, including those of her own.
“There is no need to advise Rahul Gandhi. She is always hungry for funds despite receiving maximum funds from the Centre. It is a state where maximum funds have been misused,” party spokesman Rashid Alvi alleged. She has “misused funds in constructing parks and erecting statutes, including her own, which is unheard of in our country,” Mr Alvi said. He was responding to Ms Mayawati’s remarks that instead of indulging in “votebank politics” and expressing his anger against the state government, Mr Rahul Gandhi should vent his ire at the Central government.
“As an MP from the state he should exert pressure on the Union government for releasing funds for the welfare works and projects for Uttar Pradesh,” she said.
Ms Mayawati said the Congress general secretary should also help on the issue of inflation and rising petrol prices which were posing immense hardships to the people in UP.