WILL RETURN TO POWER: CM

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday that the Samajwadi Party would return to power in 2017.Speaking on the motion of thanks in the legislative assembly, Yadav said, “SP is not bidding adieu to the House. We are sure to return to power in 2017. I am confident that next year too, I will table the annual budget on the floor of the House.” “People have confidence in my government’s development and welfare schemes. My only demand is that the Election Commission should hold the election when climatic conditions are good. It is favourable for leaders as well as voters,” he said. Hardly had Yadav completed his speech that the opposition leaders were on their toes. Leader of the BSP legislature party, Gayacharan Dinkar, said, “The chief minister is not aware of ground realities. People have made up their mind and BSP will form the next government. They are fed up with the misrule of the SP government and remember the governance of Mayawati. Some leaders have defected but BSP’s support base is intact,” he said. Leader of BJP legislature party, Suresh Khanna, also joined the debate claiming his party would repeat the Lok Sabha election’s performance in the assembly polls. “After 2017 assembly election, the BJP MLAs will be seated in treasury bench while the SP and other parties will occupy the opposition bench,” he said. Now, it was the turn of Congress legislature party leader Pradeep Mathur to lay his party’s claim. “The large gathering in the meetings of the Congress party leaders has sent a message that our party will come to power after 27 years. Secular parties will stop the BJP from grabbing power,” he said.Leader of RLD legislature party, Dalbir Singh, paused for a while after assessing strength of his party in the House. “I do not claim that RLD will form the next government on its own but I am sure that next government will be formed with the support of RLD,” he said.