Terming the Congress a "dead" party in Uttar Pradesh, state BJP today said its general secretary Rahul Gandhi was desperately looking for oxygen to revive its prospects ahead of Assembly polls in the state.

The party was responding to Rahul's remarks at a rally in Badaun district, earlier in the day, that the BJP was on a ventilator.

"Before making such remarks Rahul should look at his own party which itself is in intensive care unit in UP," party spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.

He alleged the Congress leader was aware of the ground realities and, therefore, he was desperately looking for oxygen to revive his party which is almost "dead" in UP.

"The BJP has double the number of members in Vidhan Sabha than the Congress. Therefore, Rahul should take care of his house instead of commenting on others," Pathak said.

The party spokesman alleged the Congress and the BSP were indulging in dramatics in a bid to mislead the people ahead of the UP polls.

"If Rahul knows that funds are being siphoned off in UP and Mayawati's elephant is eating money, then why the Congress-led UPA government is not taking any action?" he asked.

"In reality both the Congress and the BSP are having a tacit understanding with the latter supporting the UPA at the Centre. Rahul's rhetoric is nothing more then an attempt to mislead the people," Pathak said.

He also attacked UP Chief Minister Mayawati and said she should clarify her party's stand on the Lokpal bill in Parliament.

"Mayawati has announced to oppose the current draft of Lokpal in Parliament but in the past her party had supported the Congress-led UPA government at crucial moments," he said.

Pathak said if the BSP was against the policies of the UPA government then it should withdraw its "unconditional support" to it.

"The war of words between the two parties is nothing but an eyewash. Otherwise, the Centre should have ordered an inquiry into the documents submitted by the BJP against Mayawati and her family members," the spokesman said.