Rahul to firm up UP tie-ups

As its attempts to sew an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) continues, the Congress has authorised Rahul Gandhi to negotiate with Ajit Singh and other smaller parties on the possible of tie-ups for the UP polls.

As its attempts to sew an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) continues, the Congress has authorised Rahul Gandhi to negotiate with Ajit Singh and other smaller parties on the possible of tie-ups for the UP polls.

HT Image

But the party has once again ruled out any alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP). “We are ready to have an alliance with any party other than SP, BSP and the BJP. The stage is set for discussions with smaller parties,” Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said.

Apart from the RLD, the Congress is exploring the possibilities of having an alliance with Apna Dal and the Peace Party. Asked if RLD chief Ajit Singh could be made a minister at the Centre as part of the deal, he said: “I am not the appointing authority”.

However, reports suggested the RLD chief is wary of having any truck with the Congress given the controversies surrounding the UPA. This, according to sources, is the reason why a meeting between Ajit Singh and Digvijaya Singh failed to materialise.