On the last day of campaigning for the third phase, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday warned the electorate that like in the past, the BSP might again “celebrate ‘rakshabandhan’” with the BJP after the Assembly elections.
“Buaji (aunt Mayawati) says she will prefer sitting in the Opposition (if she did not get majority)... You all need to remain vigilant. They (BSP and BJP) have earlier too celebrated ‘rakshabandhan’. She can again celebrate the festival with the BJP,” he said at a poll rally.
Akhilesh was referring to the BSP and the BJP forming coalition Government in the past and Mayawati tying a rakhi on BJP leaders like
lalji Tandon.
Cautioning voters against the BSP, he alleged, “The party which gives tickets in return of money can take any decision in the future for the sake money.”
Canvassing for his ministerial colleague and sitting MlA, Arvind Singh Gope for Haidergarh Assembly seat here, the SP chief said, “He (Gope) has always remained loyal to me and I could not deny him ticket in these elections.”
“I have seen the day when I was thrown out of the party... Had the cycle (symbol) been snatched from me, I might have been thrown in a corner...Don’t know which election symbol I would have got,” he said.
Meanwhile in Etawah, targeting his uncle Shivpal, Akhilesh told the electorate that he was leading “the real” Samajwadi Party and warned those out to weaken him.
“Those in whom I had confidence have created a rift between me and Netaji (Mulayam). They wanted to snatch the ‘cycle’ (SP symbol) from me,” Akhilesh said.
“Thousands of people are sitting here. Ours is the real Samajwadi Party. It is a fact that my visit here has not been frequent but then the situation was different. But I will take care of Etawah and spend more time,” he said.