In a bid to placate the troika of SP, BSP and RLD, Congress general secretary and in-charge of eastern UP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the grand old party "won't cut into" the gathbandhan (alliance) votes stating that the Congress has fielded candidates in the state either with the "prospects of win" or to "damage the BJP's chances of victory".

"We have carefully chosen candidates so that either Congress wins or they cut into BJP's votes. Congress is not at all cutting into votes of the UP gathbandhan," Priyanka told reporters during her campaign trail in Salon.

But, political observers say the anti-BJP votes could get split between the Congress and the alliance, ultimately benefitting the BJP.

Salon segment, in Rae Bareli, falls under the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, where her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi is seeking re-election.

It could be noted that SP, BSP and the RLD forged an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, but kept out the Congress as there was no agreement on seat-sharing.

"This is not a preparation for Assembly elections of 2022. This is about defeating BJP in 2019," Priyanka said.

"Congress is weak in UP, we need to strengthen it. I am working towards it," she said.

On why she backed out from Varanasi contest, Priyanka Vadra said, "Had I contested I'd have got confined to Varanasi alone".

ON SMRITI IRANI

“By distributing shoes, she (Irani) has insulted people of Amethi...They say there is parivarwaad (dynastic politics), but this is the love of Amethi people...When I was 12-year-old, I had seen barren land, and I remember my father seeking your support, and today there is greenery,” she said and referred to works done by her father.