Mulayam as PM, Rahul his deputy: Akhilesh’s alliance formula with Congress

The UP CM Akhilesh Yadav was replying to a question on whether he was ready to extend his "good" personal relationship with Rahul Gandhi to a political level with the Congress.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said that the Samajwadi Party could consider entering into an alliance with the Congress if his father and SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav becomes the Prime Minister and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi agrees to be the Deputy Prime Minister.

“I also want that Netaji’s dreams are fulfilled and that I work for him. He becomes the Prime Minister and he, the Deputy Prime Minister,” Akhilesh said, pointing at Rahul Gandhi who was seated in the audience. “I am in agreement with this and will make an alliance right now if it is found acceptable,” he added. Yadav was speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in the capital today.

Not hiding a continuous smile on his face while making these remarks, Yadav also said that Rahul Gandhi was colleague and that he had a good equation with him. Gandhi, when asked to comment on Akhilesh’s suggestion, declined to say anything.

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Asked about the possibility of a “mahagathbandhan” in UP before the 2017 assembly polls, Yadav said that there was “no talk of any coalition at this point” and that “it’s better if we don’t talk of it now”.

Talking about the criticism of the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and also the state government’s alleged failure in preventing the Dadri lynching, the UP Chief Minister defended the police machinery stating it reached on time and the “”situation did not go out of control the way a section wanted”. “No one said police reached late. In fact police took the victims to the hospital,” the UP CM said.

Yadav also took a dig at the BJP saying that party should work towards bringing the “acche din” in the country. “People who were showing achhe din have gone to love jihad. Who will decide one’s diet or what one wears or says? You are going to meet Google and take selfie with Facebook. We should forget who eats, wears what and says what,” he added.

Asked about his views on “homosexuality”, Yadav said that “a section takes it positively, while others regard it to be bad”.

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The UP CM also appeared to be evading queries on his party’s relationship with former party leader Amar Singh and firebrand minister Azam Khan, whose recent remarks on the Paris attacks kicked up a row. “One is Uncle and the other chacha. And uncle’s relationship with Netaji shall remain the same,” Akhilesh said.

Queried about the public reprimands his father has given him in the past, Yadav said, “How can you hold any grudges against your father?”