"INDIA alliance united...": Congress leader Ajay Rai after party announces not to field candidates in UP-by polls

New Delhi: After the Congress party announced on Thursday that it will not field candidates in the nine Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, UP party President Ajay Rai emphasized that the INDIA alliance is united and will contest the elections with strength, alongside the Samajwadi Party (SP).
"We are working together. INDIA alliance is united...SP and INDIA alliance will fight the election with strength," the Congress leader told ANI.
Earlier, Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey while addressing a press conference on Thursday said, "The Congress has decided not to field candidates in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh bypolls and has announced its support for the Samajwadi Party (SP) in UP."
The Congress State in charge said, "This press conference is an important notice for Uttar Pradesh, that has been the centre of attention in the country's politics. This is also regarding the role of Congress in the by-elections to be held there."
"The Election Commission has announced by-elections in 9 out of 10 seats in UP. The BJP has been pursuing its political agenda for the last 10 years to weaken the constitution in the country and to serve its political interests, and to divide and break the brotherhood in the society," claimed Pandey.
He further said, "In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the people of UP gave a befitting reply to them. Today, with values to protect and save the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi is touring the country and working to give justice to every section of the society."
"Keeping the same values in mind, as per the suggestion of the President of the UP Congress Committee and all the senior leaders there and after taking consent from the Congress President, we have decided that the Congress Party will not field its candidates in UP," announced Avinash Pandey.
"All the candidates of the INDIA bloc will remain united, strong and support Samajwadi Party (SP) in UP," said the State Congress in-charge.
Meanwhile, after announcing that INDIA bloc candidates would be contesting the Uttar Pradesh bypolls on the Samajwadi Party's 'cycle' symbol, party president Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday 'humne yeh thana hai, 'samvidhan, arshan, sohardh (We have decided to save Constitution, Reservation, Harmony). We have to build the country of Bapu-Babasaheb-Lohia's dreams," he said in a post on X.
Additionally, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also appealed to the people to stand united and vote without dividing the vote.
The poll body has announced by-polls for nine of the 10 vacant assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, except Milkipur of Ayodhya district.
The Uttar Pradesh by-polls are slated to be held on nine Assembly seats including Meerapur, Kundarki, Ghaziabad, Khair, Karhal, Phulpur, and Katehari.
The polling will take place on November 13 and the counting of votes is scheduled for November 23.