 "Photo: PTI")
Rahul Gandhi discussed the chances of possible poll pacts with the ruling SP in UP with the party's lawmakers even as the grand old party said it was watching the Yadav family wars closely.
"We are keeping a close watch and observing the evolving situation," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said.
Though party leaders described Rahul's meet with the UP lawmakers as routine, the gathering assumed political overtones in the wake of the recent developments within the ruling SP and chances of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav parting ways with the parent organisation.
Congress managers said that itself was a big concern as there was no finality to the Yadav family drama who were quarrelling one day and patching up on the next day.
"It is advisable to keep calm till the SP turbulence settles down," said Tewari.
However, sources said in case of a split, Rahul would prefer the Akhilesh faction if Congress decides to forge an alliance.
Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said a split in the SP was imminent given the level of discontent displayed by Akhilesh off late.
"If they remain together, they would sink together," he said adding that deep fissures would be hard to fill up in the long run by the warring factions of the SP.
Sources said many UP lawmakers were of the view that a secular alliance on the lines of Bihar was needed to counter the BJP which was trying to play communal politics in the state ahead of the assembly polls early next year.
But there were some lawmakers who expressed a concern that aligning with the SP may not be beneficial for the Congress which is aiming to revive itself in UP.
Post 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque, the SP grew at the expense of the Congress pushing the national party to the margins.
Under Rahul's watch, the Congress is aiming big to ensure a significant place in the UP politics by taking up the issues of poor peasants. Sources said he also heard the area specific problems of the party's MLAs and asked them to work hard ahead of the next assembly polls. He also assured them of all help from the AICC.
