Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have made a string of appearances in Uttar Pradesh. (File photo)
At the Government Inter-College rally ground in Kanpur, Congress and Samajwadi Party supporters waited with bated breath this afternoon to catch a glimpse of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi. The two leaders were jointly addressing a rally in the town today - their first formal joint rally after two roadshows since they announced an alliance last Sunday.
65-year-old die-hard Congress supporter Rajendra Awasthi stayed on the Government Inter-College premises for almost an hour to hear the two leaders.
An accountant with a private firm, Mr Awasthi did have any qualms to confess that he had voted for the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, despite being a thorough Congressman at heart.
He has his reasons ready to justify his support. "I was sold on the idea of
acche din," he said. "Now, we all know what happened after that, don't we? It's been three years now. I was banking on Akhilesh earlier, but now it seems the Congress-SP coalition is the best option for Uttar Pradesh," Mr Awasthi added.
Some distance away, 22-year-old Ajay Yadav, a student preparing for the medical entrance exams in Kanpur, was firm on his agenda of meeting the two leaders.
He wanted to submit an application to Mr Gandhi and the Chief Minister, urging them to focus on the education sector and set up quality educational institutions for students from lower middle classes like him.
"Akhilesh has spared a thought for the youth of the state," said Mr Yadav, adding that the leaders represent the youth of the nation.
Ever since their alliance was sealed in Uttar Pradesh, both Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have made a string of appearances in the state.
The BJP, however, has been pulling all stops to nullify the Samajwadi Party and Congress tie-up effect. Yesterday, at his public meeting in western Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was committed to weeding out corruption in the country.
The fight against SCAM - Samajwadi (Party), Congress, Akhilesh (Yadav) and Mayawati - starts with Uttar Pradesh, he had told to a cheering crowd.