O.P. Rajbhar Challenges Akhilesh Yadavs Claims on UP Elections
O.P. Rajbhar disputes Akhilesh Yadavs electoral claims, highlighting the challenges facing the opposition in Uttar Pradesh.
Lucknow, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Uttar Pradesh Minister O.P. Rajbhar has dismissed claims made by Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav regarding the unity of the IND coalition and the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA). Speaking in Lucknow, Rajbhar asserted that Yadav will not secure victory in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections through these alliances.
Commenting on Yadav’s statement about the IND coalition’s solidarity, Rajbhar noted, “A group demonstrated in Delhi, with participants from across the country, but they will not come to Uttar Pradesh to vote. Whether they are from Rajasthan, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, or Delhi, they will cast their votes in their respective states. Forming a coalition is commendable, but what is the status of Congress in Uttar Pradesh? They have only two MLAs, and the entire nation is aware of this. We witnessed the outcome when they allied with the Samajwadi Party in 2017; nothing has changed since then.”
Rajbhar labeled Yadav’s assertions about winning Uttar Pradesh through the IND coalition and PDA as false.
Regarding Yadav’s allegations of vote theft in states from Bengal to Bihar, Rajbhar challenged him during an interview, saying, “The Election Commission and the Bharatiya Janata Party are all saying we need to discuss this—whether in the Lok Sabha or the Assembly. At the very least, provide evidence of vote theft. You have merely taken a contract to spread lies; you cannot present any truth.”
On Yadav’s claims that the younger generation is angry with the BJP, Rajbhar countered that if that were the case, why is the BJP’s student organization, ABVP, winning elections everywhere? He suggested that the Samajwadi Party should have been victorious. Rajbhar advised Yadav to review the election results before making statements, pointing out that Congress has not won any seats in the recent MLC elections across four states.
In a separate matter, after the release of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) re-arrested him, placing him in judicial custody for 14 days. Yadav claimed that Khan is being punished for his Muslim identity and for establishing a university. Rajbhar sharply responded, stating that the university was established by the BJP, but the groundwork was laid during the tenure of the Samajwadi Party, costing 600 crore rupees. He accused Yadav of misrepresenting the costs, asserting that the 520 crore rupees spent were from the earnings of the Samajwadi Party government, not the BJP’s. Rajbhar held Yadav responsible for Khan’s imprisonment, suggesting that if Yadav does not mention the BJP, his party will struggle to survive.
