Malihabad (Lucknow), July 26 (IANS) The Congress party Sunday started its campaign for by-polls to be held in six assembly constituencies Aug 18 with a rally by party national general secretary Digvijay Singh in this Uttar Pradesh town.
Addressing an impressive roadside rally, Singh drew much applause when he sought to issue a warning to Chief Minister Mayawati, “Tum guroor mein nahin rahna; janata ke vote pa kar satta mein aayee ho, aur janata ke vote se hi tum jaogi,” (Don’t be too proud; it was the people’s vote that brought you to power and the same vote will drive you out).

Digvijay Singh was here to seek support for Satya Narain Kannaujiya, who switched loyalties from the Samajwadi Party to the Congress that was desperately looking for a suitable candidate for this reserved constituency.

Singh as well other prominent Congress leaders, including state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, trained their guns on both ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party whom they pointedly blamed for taking Uttar Pradesh down in the dumps.

Interestingly, each time Singh, Joshi or recently elected MP from the neighbouring Barabanki constituency P.L. Punia embarked upon Mayawati’s poor governance, it evoked instant applause from the gathering, comprising largely of SP and BSP turncoats, who were willing to openly swear by the Congress.

Asked what had led them to look up to the Congress, Sri Krishna, a local orchard labourer, said: “We have had enough of both SP and BSP; their leaders have been only doing lip service. We are hopeful that the Congress will not be like them and will do something for our good.”

Similar views were expressed by Brij Lal, Munni Lal and Pyare Lal, who had all come from different villages in the neighbourhood to express their support for the Congress.

Barabanki MP, Punia - a retired Dalit Indian Administrative Service officer, who had held the key position of principal secretary to chief minister during three of Mayawati’s four stints - hit out at the BSP supremo.

“Clearly, Mayawati has no concern for the poor and needy. She has only statues and memorials on her list of priorities,” he said.

“No one puts up his own statues. And those who do are those who know that no one would want to remember them, so they insist on doing so during their own lifetime,” said Punia amidst cheers.

Flaying Mayawati for letting loose BSP goons to ransack and torch her house, Congress state chief Joshi said: “Let Malihabad sound the death knell of BSP in this state.”