Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's claim to have fielded weak candidates to eat into BJP's vote has not cut any ice with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who sees her statement as an "excuse" since the "people are not with them". "I cannot believe in these types of statements. I do not believe that the Congress has fielded weak candidates anywhere. No party does it. People are not with them. That is why they are making excuses," Yadav told ANI in an exclusive interview.

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On Wednesday, amid an election rally in Raebareli, Priyanka had said that her party had fielded some candidates in UP with an aim to cut into BJP's vote share. "Congress will win on the seats where our candidates are strong. Where our candidates are slightly lightweight, they will cut into BJP's vote share," she told media persons.

When questioned about political analysts' claim that the coalition is the 'Team B' of the Congress, Yadav, also former UP chief minister, claimed that there was no difference between the BJP and the Congress. "There is no difference between the BJP and the Congress. The Congress wants to benefit the BJP," he said.

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