Poster Wars Erupt: Congress and SP Lock Horns over Prime Ministerial Candidates

Lucknow: A banner outside the Congress party office in Lucknow is generating political buzz, boldly proclaiming Rahul Gandhi as the ‘2024 Prime Minister.’ This move comes shortly after the Samajwadi Party (SP) in the same region displayed a similar poster, endorsing Akhilesh Yadav as the ‘future Prime Minister of the country.’ The Congress banner also envisions its state president, Ajay Rai, as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2027.

In response to the Congress banner, Fakhrul Hasan ‘Chand,’ the SP state spokesperson, who previously unveiled Yadav’s poster, reiterated their party’s commitment to representing the interests of marginalized communities. Chand emphasized that the public’s preference for Yadav as Prime Minister remains unwavering.

The BJP, in power, dismissed the SP’s poster as wishful thinking and an attempt to pressure other members of the opposition coalition. The Congress banner, bearing the images of Rahul Gandhi and Ajay Rai, is inscribed with the slogan “2024 mein Rahul, 2027 mein Rai, desh-pradesh bol raha hai, haath ke saath aayen” (Rahul in 2024, (Ajay) Rai in 2027, both country and state are asking you to come in support of congress).

In contrast, SP spokesperson Hasan underlined their party’s distinct focus on representing the interests of backward classes, Dalits, and minorities. He stressed that regardless of the number of Congress posters, the public’s preference is for Akhilesh Yadav to become Prime Minister.

The SP’s poster wished Akhilesh Yadav a happy birthday and referred to him as the future Prime Minister, despite his official birthdate being July 1. Yadav had recently expressed his discontent with the Congress for failing to agree on seat-sharing in Madhya Pradesh and made critical remarks about UPCC chief Ajay Rai.