UP Election 2022: Akhilesh Yadav Casts His Vote, Responds To Ahmedabad Serial Blast Allegations

Akhilesh Yadav is contesting UP Assembly elections from the Karhal seat in Mainpuri district. The BJP has fielded SP Singh Baghel,  Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice against him. 

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav | File Image

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that the party is going to be eliminated this time. He said that the farmers would not forgive them and claimed that the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance was leading. 

“BJP is going to be eliminated. Farmers of UP won't forgive them. We've hit a century in the first 2 phases & even in this phase SP & alliance would be ahead of everyone else,” he said after casting his vote in Jaswantnagar. 

 

BJP going to be eliminated. Farmers of UP won't forgive them. We've hit century in first 2 phases & even in this phase SP & alliance would be ahead of everyone else: SP chief & party's candidate from Karhal, Akhilesh Yadav after voting in Jaswantnagar#UttarPradeshElections2022 pic.twitter.com/xDS7FVmwB0

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 20, 2022

Akhilesh Yadav targets UP CM Yogi

He also targeted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath alleging that the crime was at its peak in Uttar Pradesh during the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh. Upon being asked about Yogi's' 'Sabka Saath aur Safai Parivaar Ka vikaas' ' statement, Yadav said “what can I do if someone has their eyes shut. Development of Saifai did not happen in one day, it took a long time.”

He further launched an attack on CM Yogi and alleged that he did not give adequate facilities to the medical college in his constituency of Gorakhpur.  "Baba remained Chief Minister for 5 years. Why did you not give the facility to your medical college that PGI has? Who is responsible?” he asked.

Akhilesh Yadav on allegations related to Ahmedabad serial blast

Upon being asked about the allegation raised by Union Minister Anurag Thakur of one of the convicts of Ahmedabad serial blast having a connection with Samajwadi Party, Yadav said: “When the (Ahmedabad) blast took place, around that time I and others sat in the same vehicle and went to the Defence office for Territorial Army training. If I'm a terrorist, so are they. Ask him about this.” 

Thakur had slammed Yadav by showing a photo of him with one of the 49 convicts of the blast, Mohd Saif who is the son of SP leader Sahdab Ahmed. Responding on the same, Yadav said, “If just a photo is a parameter, with which leader can pics of industrialists running out of the country with money be seen? When I was an LS MP, a Pakistani General who later became the President had come there & I saw BJP leaders almost touching his feet.”

Akhilesh Yadav is contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections from the Karhal seat in the Mainpuri district. The BJP has fielded SP Singh Baghel,  Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice against Akhilesh Yadav. 

The third phase of Polling is underway in Uttar Pradesh for 59 Assembly seats across 16 districts of the state where 627 candidates are in the fray. Single-phase polling for the 117 seat Punjab Assembly election is also underway. 

Subsequent phases of polling in UP will take place on February 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will be done on March 10.