Priyanka has not started campaigning, but she is calling the shots for the congress it is reported. She struck the deal with SP and got 105 seats from Akhilesh. Deal with Samajwadi Party done, said Congress sources ahead of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s manifesto release in Lucknow this morning, capping hectic negotiations that reportedly went on till about 4.30 am on Sunday. The sources said the Samajwadi Party has now agreed to allot 105 of UP’s 403 seats for the Congress to contest as its junior partner, up from the 99 offered on Saturday afternoon.
The Samajwadi Party is yet to confirm details; Akhilesh Yadav told reporters after releasing the manifesto that the alliance is on.
“Wrong to suggest lightweights were dealing on behalf of Congress party. Discussion was at highest level- b/w CM (UP),GS I/C & Priyanka Gandhi,” tweeted senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel this morning, in what was seen as an effort to credit Priyanka, the daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, with leading the talks with the Samajwadi Party through tricky negotiations and clinching the deal.
Ms Vadra was closely involved, reportedly holding detailed discussions with both Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple. But when talks broke down on Saturday, with both sides refusing to yield any more ground, Sonia Gandhi had to reportedly step in to salvage the alliance.
Mrs Gandhi’s intervention is however stoutly being denied by Congress leaders so that Priyanka Gandhi’s role is not undermined. Late last night Ahmed Patel, who is a close aide of the Congress chief and is said to have worked the phones on her behalf, tweeted that he had not called any Samajwadi Party leader.
