Congress closely watching Samajwadi Party developments

Amid speculations about a split in the Samajawadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is keeping a close watch while not ruling out an alliance with a breakaway faction in case such a situation arises, an informed source said on Wednesday.

"It is an evolving situation in the Samajwadi Party. First, let the things settle down within that party. Then we'll come to it. Suppose there is a split, it is then a new situation," said the Congress source who indicated an alliance with any breakaway faction.

Another Congress leader, however, dubbed the SP happenings an "orchestrated drama" for which he held the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav responsible.

"The whole drama has been produced, directed and acted by Mulayam Singh Yadav," said the leader.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told IANS that the Samajwadi Party needs to set its house in order and get on with the business of governance.

"People are not interested in the bitter family war and are looking for delivery, and that is what (Chief Minister) Akhilesh Yadav should be doing," he said.

"The entire message of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's yatra is that Uttar Pradesh has been under the misrule of the SP, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the last 27 years," he added.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday afternoon met Governor Ram Naik at the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow.

Earlier, Akhilesh met party legislators, members of the Legislative Council and other leaders, including those expelled from the party.

--IANS

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