AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi, also the AICC media department chairman, sought to silence leaders like Mr Beni Prasad Verma who have been articulating “individual” views. “Individuals may have different views, but the decision is that of the party, which is binding on all. It is also true in the case of UP,” Mr Dwivedi said.
His remarks also came in the wake of party MP P.L. Punia, a friend-turned-foe of BSP supremo Mayawati who has vehemently ruled out any post-poll tie-up with the BSP, dismissing Mr Verma’s remarks as “absolutely personal”.
Mr Verma is a known detractor of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose close associate he was till a few years ago. Mr Punia was pointsman for Ms Mayawati, having been her principal secretary when she was CM earlier.
Union minister Rajeev Shukla claimed the Congress will play a crucial role in the formation of the next government in UP. “We will cross the bridge when we come to it. The results have not yet come... To talk about the results before they are out is hypothetical. Congress will have a crucial role in government formation,” Mr Shukla told reporters separately. The party’s core group, consisting of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and other top leaders, is expected to take a view about the election results. Party sources said the CWC, too, would meet. At the AICC briefing, party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury refused to speculate when asked about post-poll possibilities. “We had no pre-poll alliance with these parties. We are not yet in the post-poll scenario. Why cross the bridge...?” was her refrain to a volley of questions.
Asked about UPCC chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s statement that the Congress would have done better had the leaders spoken a little less, Ms Chowdhury said she is PCC chief and her statement has to be accepted in her official capacity.