In an outrageous statement, Mahan Dal chief has asked the voters to vote for anyone who is contesting from the Congress party, even if that person is from Pakistan.
Mahan Dal is a political party in Uttar Pradesh founded by Keshav Dev Maurya, and it is an ally of the Congress party. It had allied with Congress in 2014 Lok Sabha elections also, and had contested in 3 seats.
Addressing a rally organised in Moradabad, Keshav Dev Maurya asked people to vote for the hand symbol of Congress, and not to care about the candidate. Senior Congress leaders like Raj Babbar, Rashid Alvi and Naseemuddin Siddiqui were also present in the rally.
Maurya said, “Pratyashi mat dekhna, haath ka panja dekh lena, usi pe vote de dena, pratyashi koi bhi ho, accha ho, kharab ho, Pakistan se bhi aake lade, Mahan Dal ko koi aitraaz nahi hoga” (don’t look at the candidate, look the palm of the hand (election symbol of Congress), and vote for it. Let the candidate be anyone, be it good, be it bad, outsider, insider, even if someone from Pakistan contests, Mahan Dal will have no problem).
His this comment was cheered by people present in the rally with applause. Maurya urged the voters to vote for all candidates of Congress party and allies of Congress, so that a Congress majority government can be formed in Uttar Pradesh. He was addressing a rally named Mahan Dal ki Aabhaar rally, a thanksgiving meet.