Rahul Gandhi hails BSP founder Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary

A day after Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party ran riot in Uttar Pradesh bypolls for Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha seats, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday in a tweet remembered Kanshi Ram, the late founder of the BSP on his 84th birth anniversary.

Gandhi seems to be warming up to BSP as he highlighted the contribution of BSP founder Kanshi Ram and lauded his efforts in bringing the downtrodden and lower castes into the political mainstream.

In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said that Kanshi Ram was a great social reformer. His relentless effort to add to the depressed social powers to mainstream politics struggles have left an indelible impression on society. 

As per media reports, Rahul Gandhi has met NCP chief Sharad Pawar to step up efforts and put up an united front against the BJP ahead



of the 2019 general elections.

The meeting with the National Congress Party (NCP) leader comes amid the party's poor performance and loss in the bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Gandhi met Pawar on Wednesday night within hours of the BJP's defeat in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. The meeting took place at the latter's residence, according to media reports.

The meeting comes a day after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi hosted a dinner for opposition leaders, which was attended by leaders of 20 parties, including those from the Congress.

The Congress chief is also likely to meet TMC president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee soon. Banerjee is expected to attend a joint opposition meet being hosted by Sharad Pawar on March 28, the sources said.