Congress capable of fighting U.P. polls without alliance with SP or BSP: PCC chief Lallu

Speaking of “winds of change” in the State, Congress’ State unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu saids, “Badlav ki aandhi hai, jiska naam Priyanka Gandhi hai (There is a storm of change and its name is Priyanka Gandhi).”

Days after the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Congress’ State unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu on July 4 expressed confidence that his party was capable of fighting the elections without aligning with either of them and forming the next government on its own. He said the Congress would fight the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh next year under Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s “dekh-rekh (supervision)”, and that under her leadership, the party would make a comeback in the State after over three decades. In an interview with PTI, Mr. Lallu said the Congress had emerged as the main challenger to the “oppressive” U.P. government and claimed that his party, with just five legislators, had proven to be a more effective Opposition than the SP with 49 MLAs in the 403-member Assembly.