BSP-Congress will form alliance in 2019: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, Oct 5 (IBNS): Days after former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) declined any possibility of an alliance with the Congress in three states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) where elections are due, president of the country's oldest political outfit, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday said the two parties will come together to fight against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 General Elections, media reports said.
Rahul made the comment at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.
He has been quoted by NDTV as saying, "Alliance in the states and alliance at the Centre are two different things and Mayawati has sort of indicated that.
"I don't see the BSP not aligning (with Congress) will impact us in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan."
Rahul, in a way, acknowledged that his state party leaders were "adamant" in their approaches to form an alliance with the BSP.
The Congress president said: "We were flexible in the states (about seat sharing). In fact I was more flexible than some of our state leaders. We were amidst talks when they (BSP) decided to go their own way.
"But in the national elections, the parties (BSP, Congress) will come together. That is the indication we have."
Mayawati has alleged that the Congress always backstabs its ally. She said the Congress intends to finish her party, BSP.
Meanwhile, Rahul on Friday once again expressed his wish to become the Prime Minister if he gets the support of allies after defeating the BJP in 2019.
When asked about whether he stands by his previous comment, where Rahul had expressed his wish to become the Prime Minister, the Congress chief said: "This is a two step process. First to defeat BJP together and then sit down and decide who will become the Prime Minister.
"If they (allies) want me, definitely I will (become the Prime Minister)," he added.
Rahul had earlier stated if the Congress emerges as the single largest party, he will assume the post, which is presently held by Narendra Modi.
"If the Congress is (becomes) the biggest party, yes." the Congress supremo said in May this year.
Several talks are going on among disparate political outfits to form an alliance to take on the BJP in the next General Elections, which will be held in few months' time.
Image: twitter.com/RahulGandhi
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.