Stirring a hornet's nest, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday hinted at a alliance with Congress for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in the national capital, Akhilesh pitched for his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav as the prime ministerial candidate.
"My father as PM and Rahul Gandhi as Deputy PM is perfect formula for a 2019 alliance," Akhilesh said.
Reacting to the same, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi mocked the UP CM for his statement. "Akhilesh should keep in mind that the post of the PM is already occupied for the next 15-20 years. There is no vacancy," he said.
The UP Chief Minister was replying to a question on whether he was ready to extend his "good" personal relationship with Rahul Gandhi to a political level with the Congress.
"You are asking me because I am a Samajwadi (socialist) and you also say that I get rebuked by my father (Mulayam). I also want that Netaji's dreams are fulfilled and that I work for him. He becomes the prime minister and he (pointing at Rahul) deputy prime minister. I am in agreement with this and will make an alliance now," if it is found acceptable, Akhilesh said, smiling.
He, however, sidestepped a question on whether an alliance with rival BSP, like the one in Bihar where JDU and RJD came together, is possible in UP for the 2017 Assembly polls.
"Her (Mayawati) choice is that stone made elephant statues come up. So how is that possible? I have already told you my formula," was Akhilesh's response, referring to his conditions for a possible alliance with Congress.
Earlier, he categorically said, "there is no talk of any coalition at this point. It's better if we don't talk of it now."
The 42-year-old chief minister of India's most populous state asserted that any relationship with the BJP or any of its associate organisations was not possible "because of the kind of divisions they produce and the language they use."
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