Bhopal, Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav today minced no words in making clear his party’s intention to contest from Madhya Pradesh in next assembly elections but provided no clarity on alliance with other parties.
“The SP has decided to contest elections in Madhya Pradesh. The party is in favour of alliance. The fight for the nation would not be weakened. Nonetheless, the party would be a part of the fray in the state,” said Mr Yadav – who is on a two-day visit to the state – while replying to media queries here.
He said that the party had sent 51in-charges across the state. These in-charges had submitted reports on the party organisation’s strength in various districts. The SP has been supporting the Congress in different by-elections.
In response to media queries on possible alliance with the Congress, Mr Yadav said that he has good relations with State Congress President Kamal Nath and the Congress but no discussion has taken place.
Commenting on the recent statement by Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy that the post of chief minister is not a bed of roses, he said that he would like to congratulate Mr Kumaraswamy as running a coalition regime is a courageous act.
On whether he viewed Congress President Rahul Gandhi or himself as a future prime ministerial candidate, Mr Yadav parried the question while saying, “People are in favour of a new regime and a new prime minister.”
Lambasting the Bharatiya Janata Party for misuse of social media, he said that social media had been looked upon as a platform to connect people. However, the BJP has used it to divide people.
“The BJP is using social media to spread digital hatred. Nevertheless, the SP has prepared its digital force to counter it,” said the SP President.
Launching a scathing attack on Madhya Pradesh’s ruling BJP for plight of farmers and rising incidents of crime against women, he said that the SP intended to become the voice of poor, farmers, youth and other sections.
“The BJP has deceived farmers and failed to provide security to women in spite of being 15 years in power. Major corruption took place in the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board Scam. Several people died but truth has not come out so far,” said Mr Yadav.
Claiming that his party had carried out unprecedented development in Uttar Pradesh that eventually formed the basis for the Prime Minister to lay foundation stones of various projects, he said that the party would carry out development in the state.
On his party’s failure at the hustings in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Yadav said that the SP failed to convince people while the BJP managed to mislead people.
