SP, BSP take note, discuss Priyanka’s entry

LUCKNOW: The appointment of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as Congress general secretary incharge of UP East has made the SP-BSP alliance leaders to sit up

and discuss the new development on Wednesday.

BSP chief Mayawati, who is in Lucknow to finalise the candidates for the 38 Lok Sabha seats allotted to the party under the alliance, held a close door meeting with senior party leaders at her residence on Wednesday.

A BSP leader said the zonal coordinators and office bearers of East UP had been summoned to Lucknow and a meeting of the coordinators of Gorakhpur, Basti, Prayagraj and Mirzapur,

all located in East UP, was held under Mayawati’s chairmanship. The coordinators were directed to strengthen the booth committees and complete the membership drive by February end.

SP national president Akhilesh Yadav too held a meeting with senior party leaders in the SP state unit office. An SP leader said the changing political scenario after entry of Priyanka in the active politics was disccused in the meeting.

National general secretary of BSP Ramachal Rajbhar said the election machine of the SP-BSP alliance was well entrenched across UP to take on the rival political parties. “Entry of Priyanka and Jyotiraditya Scindia will not make much impact on the alliance. There might be a few percent increase in Congress vote percentage due to Priyanka’s efforts in comparison to the 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 assembly elections, but she will not be able to dent the BSP- SP alliance vote bank,” he said.

Senior SP leader Abdul Hafiza Gandhi said the SP- BSP alliance was all set to defeat the NDA in the Lok Sabha elections. “It’s Congress internal matter. The entry of the youth and women in state politics is a healthy sign for the democracy. The decision will not make an impact on the alliance,” he said.

A political analyst RK Gautam said, “Along with Rahul Gandhi, two young national general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia will lead the Congress campaign in the crucial Lok Sabha elections. After victory in the recent assembly elections a resurgent Congress will not only try to hold Modi’s winning chariot in UP but also challenge the might of the BSP- SP alliance that refused to open its door to the grand old party. Priyanka is a charismatic personality, she will woo youths and women in favour of the Congress.”

The Lok Sabha seats of PM Narendra Modi (Varanasi), SP patriarch Mulayam Singh (Azamgarh), Gorakhpur, which has been chief minister Yogi Adityanath bastion till it fell to the alliance in a bypoll, as well as BSP chief Mayawati’s stronghold Ambedkar Nagar are all located in the eastern region of the state.