Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched their joint election campaign for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls with a grand road show here in state capital on Sunday. Both the leaders embarked on the road show after garlanding the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar at Hazratganj.
After the press conference both leaders reached the GPO roundabout from where the road show had to start at around 3 pm, about one hour behind schedule. Both the leaders, sitting in the ‘ Uttar Pradesh Vijay Rath’ mounted on a truck started their road show with thousands of party supporters raising slogans in support of both the SP and Congress.
After waiving hands to thousands of followers who were thronged here since morning. Security personnel particularly the SPG of Rahul Gandhi had a hard time to control the crowd as all tried to shake hand with the two leaders.
Thousands of supporters of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav raised slogans like ‘Jai Jai Jai Akhilesh’ and ‘Rahul Gandhi Zindabad’. Many of them were waving flags of SP and Congress while some had pictures of AKhilesh and Rahul both on their flag.
Several women leaders of both the parties were witnessed to be more vocal in raising slogans for their leaders. Anjali, who came from Rae Bareli said “I am here for Rahul Gandhi. He is our leader. After alliance SP and Congress will form the government in UP.” A local, Tahir said “Akhilesh Yadav was wining the elections on his own strength but alliance with Congress has further strengthened him and it will win more seats and Akhilesh Yadav will be Chief Minister again.”
When the Vijay Rath started some security personals climbed upon the vehicles and many others covered the whole vehicle and supporters started chanting slogans in support of both leaders.
Both the leaders addressed over a dozen whistle stop meetings. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi specifically targeted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the demonetisation of the high value currency notes. Rahul said the move was to benefit the industrialist friends of the prime minister while it caused huge hardships to the common people and ruined the poor, farmers and small traders and businesses.
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav besides criticising the note ban and the divisive politics of the BJP also targeted his arch rival Bahujan Samaj Party. Akhilesh Yadav also listed the achievements of his government in last five years and particularly the development works done in old city areas of lucknow.
The Vijay Rath, from Hazratganj moved towards the old city via lalbagh, Kaiserbagh, Nakkhas, and Chauk Chauraha and the rath yatra concluded at Ghantaghar where both leaders addressed a public meeting.