A day after sources indicated that Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati are looking at a mahagathbandhan or "grand alliance" in Uttar Pradesh to take on the BJP in the 2019 general elections without partnering with the Congress, a senior leader from the Rahul Gandhi-led party said they are ready to go it alone in the state. PL Punia, a Rajya Sabha member from the Congress, today said his party is preparing to contest alone. "A coalition is not important... Our workers are ready... We have not spoken to anyone about an alliance," he said.