New Delhi: Taking a jibe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said he felt bad on his misfortune.
“I saw a photo in today’s newspapers, which made me laugh and feel sorry (for Shivpal Singh Yadav),” said Adityanath in Karhal, Mainpuri, ANI reported.
“Poor Shivpal, who was a leader of the state, was not given a chair to sit. He was sulking. I felt bad on his misfortune,” he added.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s remarks came a day after an interesting picture emerged from Etawah as Akhilesh Yadav, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav were seen together on the campaign trail for the first time after more than five years.
Earlier in 2017, Shivpal Yadav had floated his own Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohiya) after a bitter fight with his nephew.
Escalating his attack on the Samajwadi Party, Adityanath said the leaders of Akhilesh Yadav-led party have lost their temper by seeing their imminent defeat in the Karhal Assembly constituency.
“The attack on SP Singh Baghel (Union Minister and BJP candidate) is an example of their cowardliness,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Mainpuri Police booked two identified and 25 “unidentified” persons for an alleged attack on Agra BJP MP Baghel’s convoy.
Baghel, who is contesting the polls against Akhilesh Yadav from Karhal, sustained minor injuries after his convoy was allegedly attacked with stones and sticks while he was returning after campaigning in the area on Tuesday evening.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister further said that a grand temple of Lord Ram will be ready in Ayodhya by 2023.
“This Ram Temple will be 'Rashtra Mandir' of India,” he added.
Voting for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is being held in seven phases.
Earlier on February 14, over 61% polling was reported in the 55 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh that voted in the second phase of the assembly elections.
The first phase of assembly elections for 58 assembly constituencies was held on February 10.
59 assembly seats will go to the polls in the third phase on February 20, while 60 seats will go to polls in the fourth phase on February 23.
Polling will be held on 60 assembly seats in the fifth phase on February 27, 57 seats in the sixth phase on March 3 and 54 seats in the seventh phase on March 7.
The counting of votes will be held on March 10.