‘BJP misusing power and govt machinery’

LUCKNOW: On the eve of the second phase of the ongoing UP civic polls, the Samajwadi Party (SP) national president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav charged the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) with blatant misuse of power and government machinery and open violation of election code of conduct.

In a statement issued on Saturday evening, Akhilesh Yadav said, “All hopes and expectations of free and fair polls are vanishing. Already there have been doubts over ‘impartiality’ of EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). The saddest part is the Election Commission is looking the other way.”

Akhilesh said that the state cabinet members were misusing government machinery in poll campaigning. “In election meetings, they are promising jobs to the youth, houses for all, or free power connections. Once again the BJP is using its old trick of misleading people by making false promises and dividing people along religion and caste lines and disturb harmony”, he said.

› All hopes and expectations of free and fair polls are vanishing... EC is looking the other way.

AKHILESH YADAV, SP national president

However, at the same time, Akhilesh said that the people voted in favour of Samajwadi Party in the first phase because of their anger against the BJP and development orientation of SP and they should continue the trend in the second phase too.

SP CELEBRATES RAJ NARAIN’S BIRTHDAY

The Samajwadi Party celebrated the birth anniversary of late Raj Narain, former union health minister. National secretary of the party and the chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said that Raj Narain was a foremost socialist leader of his time and throughout his political life, worked to consolidate democratic values. He struggled against dictatorship during the Emergency in 1975.