Beginning of the end of arrogant rule: Akhilesh

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday termed the outcome of by-elections on Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly seats as “the beginning of the end of an arrogant rule” and defeat of divisive politics.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was jolted by united opposition candidates, Rashtriya Lok Dal’s Tabassum Hasan and Samajwadi Party’s Naeemul Hasan, in Kairana and Noorpur by-elections.

Akhilesh gave his first reaction to the results on Twitter and followed it up with a press conference.

“I congratulate the voters in both the seats as they have given a befitting response to the BJP’s rule that was nothing but lies and betrayal. This is the defeat of those who do not believe in democracy and play divisive politics,” Akhilesh told media persons.

Akhilesh’s uncle and SP national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav was also present in the press conference.

“I thank and congratulate the voters of Noorpur and Kairana. This is the victory of farmers, dalits and poor,” Akhilesh said.

Commenting on the victory of RLD in Kairana, he said the contest on the seat was of the RLD and the SP supported it.

He said he was thankful to RLD president Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary who went from village to village to sensitise people against communal forces that incited Muzaffarnagar riots.

“I express my gratitude to RLD, BSP, AAP, Left parties, NCP, Mahan Dal, and the Congress for the victories,” he said.

When asked why he did not go for campaigning in Kairana and Noorpur, he said in a lighter vein: “I got scared by the CM’s speech. That’s why I did not go for campaigning... I am very scared of their language.”

“By-elections have ended the divisive politics of the BJP. The success of the alliance is a message for the entire country. All parties worked together for the victory,” Akhilesh said.

When asked if he considered it a big success of alliance and if he would consider taking an initiative to form a larger alliance at the national level, Akhilesh said: “We will support those parties which will make effort for it. Wherever our party has the organisational structure, we will work there.”

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh had tweeted that the outcome of the by-polls was the beginning of the end of an arrogant rule.