Rahul defends Cong's move on fielding 'weak candidates' against Mayawati, Akhilesh
New Delhi, May 2 (IBNS): In his first television interview during the 2019 general elections, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday defended his party's decision to field "weak candidates" against Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, stating that the move has been taken to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"It is pretty clear that in UP, a secular formation is winning, whether it is the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party or Congress," the Congress president told NDTV during the interview.
Rahul Gandhi echoed his sister Priyanka's comment on this matter and said: "Wherever we don't have a strong candidate, we are helping the BSP, we are going to harm the BJP. I have told my sister (Priyanka Gandhi) and Jyotir (Jyotiraditya Scindia) that in places where we are not going to win, we are going to help the gathbandhan. Our primary aim is to defeat the BJP."
On being asked why the Mayawati-Akhilesh Yadav alliance kept Congress out in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul said: "You have to ask the SP and BSP. They chose this for strategic reasons."
"I am extremely respectful of Akhilesh and Mayawati ji. I have to construct my own space over there but I am helping where I can," he added.
Earlier Priyanka's comment on fielding "weak candidates" against Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh received flak.
She was also accused of helping the Bharatiya Janata Party win. "I would rather die than help the BJP in any way," Priyanka had angrily responded to the comment.
Reacting to the statement of Priyanka, Akhilesh Yadav had reportedly said: "I don't believe that the Congress has fielded weak candidates anywhere. No party does it. People are not with them, so they are making excuses."
Mayawati also reacted stating: "The BJP and the Congress are the same. Don't waste your vote on the Congress. Is Rahul Gandhi immature? Why did he hug Prime Minister (Narendra Modi?)."
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