Akhilesh & Rahul Together To Conquer

At least that is how Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav portray the alliance as they begin joint campaigning

- Ajay Uprety

The chemistry was palpable. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi offered chewing gum to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who reciprocated with chocolates. Before the first joint road show of the Samajwadi PartyCongress alliance in Uttar Pradesh, on January 29, both leaders tried to impress upon the voters that this was not an “opportunistic alliance”, but a “pact of hearts”. They launched a  theme song with the line—UP ko yeh saath pasand hai (UP likes this togetherness) and posters showing them together sprang up at various places.

Both leaders seem confident of winning the assembly elections—starting on February 11— forming government and stopping the march of “communal forces”. Said Rahul: “The alliance is historic. At present, we have spoken about 2017; the pact for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is not yet certain, but all options are open.”

“Rahul and I are two wheels of a bicycle,” said Akhilesh. “We have met on many occasions, like during Lok Sabha sessions and in other functions. Now, we have the chance to work together and, once he joins us, our work will pick up pace.”

“The alliance is historic. The pact for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections is not certain, but all options are open,” said Rahul.

Rahul and Akhilesh seem keen to forget an acerbic past and come together to stop Modi from winning in Uttar Pradesh.

The duo seems to have already struck a chord with the Muslims, who form 19 per cent of the state’s population.