Peace Party wants Oppn to replicate by-poll strategy

LUCKNOW: Peace Party president Dr Mohammad Ayub on Thursday said the opposition parties would have to display the same unity and acumen which led to the alliance’s success in Lok Sabha by-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur in March 2018.

“At present, all opposition parties are trying to woo Muslims to improve their prospects. But Muslims will vote only for that party or alliance which is best suited to defeat the BJP,” he said.

Ayub said in the event of a close finish and a narrow difference in the tally of seats between BJP and the grand alliance, there was every possibility that smaller parties of the ‘mahagatbandhan’ could break away and side with the BJP and help it in government formation.

He said it was imperative to ensure Dalit, Muslim and OBC unity, which together constituted 70 per cent of the population.

The Peace Party was among the first to welcome the SP-BSP tie-up in UP. And despite his predilection towards the alliance, Ayub has been meeting the Congress leaders too.

His picture with Congress general secretary (east UP) Priyanka Gandhi was shared on the social media. However, quick to dispel the speculation, he said: “Nothing would be achieved by sharing pictures with Akhilesh Yadav or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The objective should be to take the party’s mission to the people.”