A day after launching a frontal attack on his uncle Shivpal Yadav in Etawa on Thursday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav targeted senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Beni Prasad Verma for allegedly working against party candidate in Barabanki.
On Friday, Yadav addressed several poll meetings in Barabanki and lucknow. He addressed a meeting in Ram Nagar Assembly segment of Barabanki parliamentary constituency where Cabinet minister Arvind Singh Gope and CM’s confidant is in the fray.
“I have not denied ticket to any candidate. I had offered the ticket from Kaiserganj Assembly segment in neighbouring Bahriach district. I had also assured that it was the party’s responsibility to ensure his victory. But he was adamant and wanted to contest only from Ramnagar seat. Arvind Singh Gope stood by me during crisis and I cannot leave him in the lurch,’’ said Akhilesh Yadav.
Akhilesh was referring to the ticket of Beni Verma’s son Rakesh Verma, who wanted to contest from Ramnagar but the party decided to field him from Kaiserganj. Rakesh was cabinet minister in the previous SP regime headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav from 2003 to 2007.
Accusing Beni Verma of attempting to drive a wedge between him and his father, Akhilesh said, ``I have seen those tough days when I was expelled from the party. Today somebody is asking for a ticket for himself or his son and conspiring to create discord in my family.’’
Yadav added, ``I could have done the same thing in the family of that leader had his son met me seeking ticket from Ramnagar Assembly seat.’’
Recalling the `benevolence’ of Samajwadi Party towards Beni Verma, the SP president said, ``The party got him elected to Rajya Sabha with the vote of 35 MlAs and he is not willing to accept one MlA.’’
Akhilesh said, ``I respect senior leaders of the party but cannot part company with Arvind Singh Gope as despite so many conspiracies against me and the party, Gope stood by both. So there was no question of denying him a ticket from Ramnagar seat.’’
The SP chief appealed to the people of Ramnagar segment to give a befitting reply to those who were conspiring to defeat Gope. Akhilesh had made similar appeals to people against his uncle in Etawah on Thursday. Yadav also sought the support of the electorate for Congress candidate Tanuj Punia from Jaitpur Assembly seat of Barabanki.
Yadav cautioned the people to exercise discretion and not vote for the BSP as Mayawati could join hands with the BJP as she had done thrice in the past.
Addressing a meeting in Mohanlalganj township of lucknow, Akhilesh said, ``I am at my wits ends to understand as to why Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Barabanki that SP cadres were running police stations. ‘Ab police bhee Samajwadi ho gayee hai’.’’