Akhilesh a man with clean image: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Congress veteran and party’s UP in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad acknowledged chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as a “man with clean and transparent image,” a rare honour from the rival camp that is trying to form its own government in the state.

Amid the rising pitch of the poll campaigns in Uttar Pradesh, some words of bonhomie are not getting lost.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav interacts with journalists at his residence in Lucknow. (HT File Photo)

On Sunday, Congress veteran and party’s UP in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad acknowledged chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as a “man with clean and transparent image,” a rare honour from the rival camp that is trying to form its own government in the state.

“Personally I feel woh saaf sutra hai (he is clean and transparent),” said Azad, replying questions on the family feud within the state’s first family.

Azad’s comments come days after the young chief minister had said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is a good boy who should come to the state more often.

Even as repeated questions were asked about Samanwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s reluctance to project Akhilesh as the chief ministerial candidate for next year’s polls, Azad maintained it is a matter between a father and a son and no party should be bothered about it.

He also said that he believes Akhilesh will not help the BJP—amid growing speculations about a possible understanding between the Congress and the SP to stem the BJP in UP where it got 71 out of 80 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls.

The Congress also roped in former MP Obaidullah Khan Azmi, a son of the soil from UP’s Azamgarh, known for his prolific speeches. Muslim Personal Law Board member Azmi’s inclusion in the party also comes at a time when the government wants to oppose the ‘triple talaq’ of the Muslims. Azad, however, avoided any comment on the talaq issue underlining that the matter is sub-judice.