BULANDSHAHR: Being out of power in Uttar Pradesh since 1989 and in an attempt to regain its lost ground in the state, the Congress made it clear on Sunday that it will contest the 2022 assembly elections solo and will not enter into any alliance with another political party.
The announcement was made by the Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while addrerssing party workers Pratigya sammelan here in Bulandshahr on Sunday. ALSO READ: CBI, ED Directors’ Tenure Will Be Upto 5 Years, Centre Brings Ordinance
Notably, this announcement comes hours after she met Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Sunday in Delhi to offer her condolences on the demise of her mother.
Addressing the party workers, Priyanka, who is also party’s in-charge for the state said, “In the end, it is only the Congress which can fight the BJP.”
When I assumed charge of the state, a lot of our party workers while pledging support, warned me against forging an alliance with another party. I just wish to assure you that we will fight the elections all alone on all the (403) seats, entirely on our strength
The announcement assumes significance as Priyanka has been working hard to revive the party in the state. After making her political debut in the active politics in January 2019, Priyanka has been trying to strengthen the party’s organisation in the state.
She has been touring the state on a regular basis and has been criticising the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP state government in Uttar Pradesh on several issues.
She had been quick to take a political stand on issues such as the alleged Hathras gangrape case in 2020, Lakhimpur Kheri violence case this year and the Sonebhadra massacre in 2019.
The Congress general secretary had earlier announced that the party will give 40 per cent candidature to women in the state and also announced several sops for the people of the state.
The Congress had contested the 2017 assembly elections in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and poll strategist Prashant Kishor was roped in to revive the party in the state. However, his much hyped poll campaign of UP ke Ladke, which included then Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi and former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav did not have any effect on the polls.