Rebel SP MP to join Congress

Lucknow, May 26 (UNI) Terming Rahul Gandhi, an only hope for the country's all round development, rebel Samajwadi Party MP Beni Prasad Verma today called upon all the socialists to join the Congress.

''I am in touch with all the socialist leaders asking them to strengthen the hands of Ms Sonia Gandhi, like Ram Manohar Lohia did in the pre-independence period'', he said.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Verma, once a close confident of Mulayam Singh Yadav, said, he is ready to join the Congress but there should be a formal invitation from other side.

'' I will hold a rally in Lucknow in September under the banner of Samajwadi Kranti Dal(SKD) when the decision will be taken to join the Congress'', he said.

Claiming that the Nehru-Gandhi family had sacrificed much for the country, Mr Verma said, now his dream is to see Rahul Gandhi as the PM of the country.'' I had spent my entire youth for Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav even after rejecting UP Chief Minister's post for at least four times but now I am ready to give rest of my life for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi'', he further said.

Refusing any effort to patch up with the Samajwadi Party leadership, he said, now that chapter is closed and there is no question of returning to the party.

Further claiming that the debacle of the SP in the assembly polls was only due to his opposition against the government, the Kurmi leader said, the assembly poll defeat had marked the end of Mr Yadav's political career.

Making another disclosure, the MP also alleged that he will soon lodge a police complaint against some SP leaders who tried to poison him through his servant. However, he refused to give the details.

UNI