Cong plans two-front fight against Mulayam

The decision to launch this offensive was taken at a meeting attended by senior leaders at the AICC headquarters today. Those present at the meeting included UP Congress president Salman Khurshid and legislature party leader Pramod Tewari.

Tewari said the Assembly strategy would last the whole session. The demonstrations, starting from Lucknow, will be taken to the district-level and will be held at short intervals.

Party sources said there was a possibility of the Congress making certain issues a common cause with the BSP, particularly in the case of law and order. However, it did not mean that they had reached an electoral understanding, they said. In the face of all this, the Congress continues to support the Mulayam Government, at least officially.

Congress general secretary Satyavrat Chaturvedi said the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal had brought the police, administration and the government under a cloud of suspicion. Therefore, ‘‘one can understand the anger of Mayawati(asking for dismissal of the government’’, he said. However, he said, ‘‘political decisions cannot be taken on the basis of sentiments and anger. They have to be taken in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution.’’