“The Congress will stand on its own in this election and after that play a significant role in future politics of the state,” Rahul said.

On the last day of campaigning for the first phase of elections, to be held on February 8, the AICC general secretary said he was “fond of Mayawati” and “respects her as well as Mulayam Singh Yadav”, but the problem was that the two did not go out and meet people. He also praised the late BSP founder Kanshi Ram as “a true leader, who moved politics in Uttar Pradesh”.

However, Rahul criticised senior BJP leader L K Advani at length. Be it the BJP opposing the Lokpal Bill in Parliament, Advani’s yatra against corruption, scandals in BJP-ruled states, or the well-known desire of senior leaders to become prime minister, Rahul targeted Advani on every issue.

“There are some big leaders in India who are obsessed with becoming prime minister, but I am not. I am a transmitter, who has no power of his own. All I have is belief of some people in me because I listen to them and talk about their issues,” said Rahul. “I do not fool people by talking about converting Bundelkhand into Israel, or sending students to foreign countries. It is criminal.”

He mentioned that Advani, along with other opposition leaders, had laughed in Parliament when he talked about a constitutional Lokpal on the lines of the Election Commission. They said it his idea, Rahul said. “In fact, it is India’s idea.”

He also explained his statement referring to Sam Pitroda as a carpenter, saying caste cannot be ignored in UP. “I was trying to generate hope. I was trying to tell people if a person from their community can transform the country, then they too can.”