Congress Rae Bareli MLA Aditi Singh defies party’s boycott call, attends UP assembly session

Although Aditi Singh said she took part in the debate ‘rising above party politics’, her move assumes greater political significance as Rae Bareli is the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

All India Mahila Congress general secretary and Rae Bareli (Sadar) MLA Aditi Singh’s move of attending the special session of the state assembly, defying the party’s boycott, may come as a major setback for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

Aditi Singh had also stayed away from the ‘padyatra’ that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had undertaken from Shaheed Smarak to the GPO Park(Subhankar Chakraborty/HT PHOTO)

Although Singh said she took part in the debate ‘rising above party politics’, her move assumes greater political significance as Rae Bareli is the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

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“I spoke on the development issue rising above party politics. I have tried to tread the path that I feel is right and what my father has shown to me,” said Singh after attending the state assembly.

Singh hinted she was ready to face action, saying “It’s the party’s call. I will accept whatever decision the Congress may take,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Aditi Singh had stayed away from the ‘padyatra’ that Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had undertaken from Shaheed Smarak to the GPO Park here. Singh was considered close to the Nehru-Gandhi family and Priyanka had recently visited her home in Lalupur village of Rae Bareli to pay homage to her father Akhilesh Singh.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ajay Kumar Lallu said he was not aware whether Aditi Singh had defied the party’s boycott decision.

“I will find out and let you know,” said Lallu.

There is speculation in political circles about whether she would join the BJP. Singh said in the state assembly that she was grateful to chief minister Yogi Adityanath for the action he took in connection with the attack on her when she was on way to the Rae Bareli district panchayat earlier this year.

“I am educated and so I support nullifying Article 370,” she said in the House.

The BJP has been making consistent attempts to strengthen the party in Rae Bareli. BJP chief Amit Shah had inducted Congress MLC Dinesh Singh in his party before the Lok Sabha election. Dinesh Singh’s brother Congress MLA Rakesh Singh is already being considered out of Congress for all practical purposes.