‘akHileSH iS a good boy’

Both Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad have been heard saying, “Akhilesh achha ladka hai (Akhilesh is a good boy).” This is being seen as the Congress being open for an alliance with the Samajwadi Party, despite its assertion that it will go it alone in the polls. Rahul Gandhi’s yatra (rally) across UP has not had any effect, so the Congress is not averse to getting into an alliance. It prefers Maywati’s BSP over the SP, but the Behenji is a tough nut to crack. So the Congress is sending feelers to Akhilesh Yadav for a tie-up. If such an alliance takes place, there may be a third partner in the form of Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal. Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar are also said to be talking to the Congress, the SP and the RLD.