Priyanka appointment a big step, SP-BSP not enemies: Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the appointment of his sister Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia as General Secretaries for Uttar Pradesh is a "big step" to spread the party's ideology and to rebuild its base and declared that his party will cooperate with the BSP and SP to defeat the BJP in whatever ways possible.

Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was rattled, Gandhi said it was up to Priyanka Gandhi to decide whether or not to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections.

"I fully respect Akhileshji and Mayawatiji. They have done their alliance and they are not our enemies. We are fighting together. If remaining parties want to join us, it is welcome," he told reporters after the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi and Scindia was announced.

"Their (SP and BSP) ideology is very much similar to that of the Congress. And we have to defeat the BJP in the state. Wherever cooperation is possible, we will cooperate to defeat the BJP. We can work together," he said.

"... But we have to make our own space to spread the Congress ideology and for that it (appointments) is a big step. I am fully confident that they will work to bring a positive change.

"I have given them a mission in Uttar Pradesh for spreading the real ideology, the ideology for the poor and weaker sections. Priyanka and Scindia are powerful leaders and I have full faith that they will work and give what Uttar Pradesh needs and what its youth needs."

Asked if Priyanka Gandhi would contest the Lok Sabha elections, he replied: "It depends on her. We are not going to play on the backfoot. We have not played on the backfoot in Gujarat also. We do politics for people. So we will play on the front foot.

Gandhi said that with the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi, a new thinking will grip Uttar Pradesh politics.

"I am happy that Priyanka, who is very capable, will work with me and I am personally very happy," he said, adding that Scindia too was a dynamic youth leader.

Attacking the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, he said: "We want to tell the people of Uttar Pradesh that you people have wasted a lot of time by giving the BJP the mandate. The BJP has destroyed Uttar Pradesh.

"Remove them, we will give a new direction to the state and will bring it to the number one position. I am not talking about caste or religion but with you we want to fulfil your dreams. The BJP is rattled."

--IANS

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