Congress hints at no tieup for UP election

Amid its vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s aggressive pitch to woo voters in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Congress, on Saturday, virtually ruled out any alliance in the Assembly polls.

“Our policy so far is to stand on our own feet. We have not given much thought to the issue,” party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said while talking to reporters along with UPCC chief Raj Babbar.

He was asked whether the Congress, out of power in UP for 27 years now, would ally with any party in the Assembly polls scheduled early next year.

Replying to another question, Mr Azad suggested he was not in favour of early declaration of candidates for the UP polls. He said early declaration was a “double-edged sword” which at times helps, but at times proves counter-productive.

“When the entire party leadership is approaching people (through various yatras), the issue is not relevant,” he said to the suggestion that early announc-ement of candidates give them time to reach out to people.

Asked about the turmoil in the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, he said he foresees a “war-like situation” in the party during distribution of tickets.