Cong should play 'supporting role' to regional players: RLD leader

Press Trust of India  |  Lucknow 

leader today said the should play a supporting role in states dominated by regional parties in seat-sharing agreements ahead of the 2019 election.

Admitting that seat-sharing was a difficult task, particularly in where there are as many as four major parties, the vice president said all partners will have to show magnanimity to halt the BJP in its tracks.

In states where the is the main party, he suggested that the regional parties should support it.

While in the others, where the regional parties are in the vanguard, the will have to play the supporting role, he told PTI, suggesting a formula to keep the fledgling flock together.

"It is, however, for the Congress to take a call on this, but all the constituents have realised that this is the way forward," he said in a telephone interview.

He said the realisation had already dawned in where the Congress and the (Secular) have formed the government.

He added that things are moving in the same directions in with reports of the Congress and the BSP trying to come together for the assembly elections later this year.

Referring to the bye-elections for Gorakhpur, Phulpur and Kairana constituencies won by the opposition in UP in the last few months, said, The three bye-elections have broken the myth of the BJP's invincibility and all parties have realised the fact that this is the way forward.

If things can be managed properly in Uttar Pradesh, the 2019 poll results will be different," he said.

"The fact that the three main parties - the Congress, the and the are being led by a new generation of leaders will be most helpful, (39) said.

He said the new-generation leaders carry no burden of history and are very comfortable with each other, and this can be translated into providing a political alternative.

Chaudhary, who is son of RLD chief and grandson of Charan Singh, was an from Mathura in the previous

"Coalition is nothing new for the country as it helps in giving representation to the diversity of the country, he said, adding even and UP Adityanath are leading coalitions.

He said besides pointing at a formula to success for anti-BJP parties, the bye-election result have shown people the possibility of an alternative.

Till now the momentum had been in favour of the BJP and people believed that no one could face the 'Chanakya niti' of Amit Shah, he said.

The ruling party also does not have the excuse that its top leadership had remained absent from Kairana, he said.

"was there twice and also visited the adjoining areas just before the polling, while deputy CMs, Union ministers and MPs stayed put in the constituency," he said.

The was also critical of the campaign undertaken by the BJP, saying the party leaders indulged in negative talk which was unbecoming of those occupying such high posts.

"We successfully managed to put the government on the mat raising questions on development and farmers issues, he said.

These are important matters and cannot be ignored by any government," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sun, June 03 2018. 11:35 IST