‘Every election is different and requires distinctive planning’

NEW DELHI: When the Congress named former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming election in Uttar Pradesh, it was not only a departure from its practice of not announcing its face ahead of the polls but the move was also unusual. Never before had the Congress named a former CM of one state as its CM candidate in another state. In an interview to Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, she says the party has entrusted her with a “big” responsibility.

Your party has got a good head start as far as the campaigning is concerned but the big question is whether the momentum will sustain till the end.

Of course, we will keep it up. We are going everywhere and our programmes will continue till the election.

Do you think the Congress will be able to translate the crowd response into votes this time?

Yes, we are very confident. The spontaneity of response not only in Varanasi but in Lucknow and also during the DelhiKanpur bus yatra was overwhelming.

Has Prashant Kishor brought anything new to the table? What difference do you see in the present strategies as compared to those adopted in the past?

He is an adviser and not a political person. He gives suggestions and inputs to the party’s campaign strategy. As far as difference in strategy is considered, every election is different and requires a distinctive kind of planning.

Is a Congress-BSP alliance possible or do you think SP could be a better option? Political analysts have suggested that if Congress and BSP come together, the alliance will not only reap rich electoral dividends in the 2017 polls but also become invincible.

I can say there is no possibility of a Congress-BSP alliance. We are aspiring to form the government and much will depend on the outcome of poll results.

So, you don’t rule it out.

How can I rule it out? It is too early to say that. There are still six months left for the elections.

As Congress president Sonia Gandhi will not be available for campaign in the immediate future in view of her health condition, the burden has once again fallen on Rahul Gandhi. Do you think the time has come for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to share that burden?

She is a very popular leader. Congress workers want her to campaign for the party. There is a huge demand from everywhere but the ultimate decision will be taken by her, Congress president and the vice-president.