Congress to contest all Lok Sabha seats in UP

Snubbed by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) who have joined hands in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress yesterday said it will contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state but insisted that its doors were open for secular parties willing to defeat the BJP.

A day after arch rivals SP and BSP announced the alliance, Congress General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said his party not being a part of the union was a blessing in disguise.

“Our party is rather happy... Had there been an alliance we would have to be content with 25-30 seats. But now we will be contesting in all the seats. We are all prepared and will contest in all the 80 seats,” Azad said.

“We are ready to contest all 80 seats but if there are any secular party or parties whom we find competent to join us in our fight against the BJP, we are ready to accommodate them,” he added.

“The Congress is the only party that can uproot the Modi government and defeat the BJP. We wanted all secular parties to join our fight against the BJP,” Azad said.

Our party is rather happy.. Had there been an alliance we would have to be content with 25-30 seats.” Ghulam Nabi Azad | Congress general secretary