Mayawati has faith in Rahul, Sonia; creases can be ironed out: Cong

Apparently stunned by Mayawati's announcement Wednesday that her party won't forge any alliance with it in the Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan assembly polls, the Congress hoped that the BSP chief reposing her faith in Rahul and Sonia Gandhi will provide it a window of opportunity and "creases will be ironed out" with harmony.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party's goal of defeating the BJP is clear and if any party walks along with it in achieving it is welcome, otherwise there can be a "healthy contest" in this fight against the BJP and there is nothing wrong in it as happened in the past.

"Mayawati has expressed her sentiments and we respect that. She has reposed full faith in Rahul ji and Sonia ji and we respect that too. If there is harmony among Sonia Gandhi, who is our guide, and Rahul Gandhi, who is our leader, and Mayawati ji, then no fourth person can create a rift among them.

"If there are any creases left, they will be ironed out mutually among them with harmony," he told reporters.

Surjewala also said that once the leaders have amicable, respectable, fruitful relationship with each other, "all other creases can be ironed out".

Earlier, Mayawati announced that her party will contest assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh either on its own or in alliance with regional parties but not with the Congress.

"I don't think so alliances are discussed or announced in press conferences. I think her statement says a lot and that is what you should think," Surjewala said.

To a question on whether the Congress still has hope left in an alliance with the BSP, he said the BSP leader has expressed mutual respect and confidence towards the Congress president as also Sonia Gandhi.

"I think that is the most important rather than reading multiple meanings in the statement of Mayawati ji," he said.

On the charges levelled by Mayawati against certain Congress leaders, he said decisions on alliances and discussions on them between parties are not talked about in press conferences.

Surjewala said, "Be it with one party or another, be it in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan or Telangana, the state units and leadership will decide with whom they wish to ally or not to strengthen the opposition and they will deliberate with the alliances committee set up for the purpose."
Alliances will depend on state to state and the Congress will align with such parties that can strengthen the ideology and in the interest of the state's development, he said, adding that wherever it is felt that there is no scope for alliance and where the thoughts do not merge, "there will be a healthy contest there in this fight against the BJP. There is nothing wrong in this, as this has happened in the past too."