What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
LUCKNOW: Hours after Aparna Yadav Bisht, the younger daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav said that he hopes that “she will work to save democracy and the constitution”.
Congratulating his sister-in-law on her political move, the SP chief told a media gathering that he was happy that the SP ideology of socialism is being spread to other parties as well. “I hope that our ideology will work there in saving the democracy and the Constitution,” he said.
According to him, his father and former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav tried his best to convince her against joining BJP but all in vain.
Aparna Bisht Yadav, who is married to Akhilesh’s younger brother Prateek Yadav, joined the BJP earlier in the day in Delhi giving a big hint of rift in the Yadav clan ahead of the crucial assembly polls. The rift ahead of 2022 assembly polls was a reminder to similar rift in the family in 2016 when Akhilesh Yadav removed his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav from the party.
To another question of him contesting the assembly elections, Akhilesh Yadav, said, “The decision on my contesting elections will be taken by the people of Azamgarh. I will decide on contesting assembly polls after consulting with people of Azamgarh. And will contest from any seat which the party wants.”
Akhilesh Yadav is currently a sitting MP from Azamgarh in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The Samajwadi Party leader also said that his party has approached the Election Commission against BJP for spreading fake and false news on social media.
They (BJP) are doing the worst campaigning on social media and are also spreading fake narrative. We have been complaining about it regularly to the Election Commission. He further said that the party has never complained about lack of resources for digital campaigningnin view of Covid pandemic, but we raised the issue for the smaller parties who don’t have the resources.
“BJP was already prepared for digital campaigning. Every BJP leader, Minister had a set up for digital campaigning st home. They should tell how studios were prepared at their homes,” he said.
“How did BJP leaders came to know about the digital campaigning ahead of others?” he asked.
He said that he is not saying the same for the SP but talking about smaller parties.
“How will small parties connect with their voters, how will they address a press conference? This kind of biased treatment should be looked into by the Election Commission,” he said.
He was asked about his sister-in-law saying she had now gone to a “nationalistic party”.
“I have gone to a military school myself, a central government school at that. Of my schoolmates, many are currently protecting our borders. Many of my seniors have had illustrious military careers. Can the BJP’s top leadership give one instance of even one of their classmates being in the army? What is the definition of nationalism? Did we not build an expressway where Air Force jets have landed?” the former Chief Minister replied.
The polling for the 403 member assembly is scheduled in seven phases from February 10 to March 7 and counting of votes is scheduled on March 10. The SP is trying hard to make a comeback in the assembly polls by dethroning the ruling BJP which is looking for a second consecutive term in the politically vital state.
