Akhilesh hints at polls in Feb, says SP ready

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav hinted that UP elections could be held in February, though he said his party was ready to go to the polls earlier on the basis

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav hinted that UP elections could be held in February, though he said his party was ready to go to the polls earlier on the basis of the infrastructure development work carried out under his stewardship in the state.

HT Image

“There are indications that the elections may be called in February but in case some people want it earlier, we are okay with that too,” he said on Sunday, while exhorting party cadre to get into election mode.

“Sometime back I said only five months were left for polls and if you could do your bit in these months, it would ensure the return of your party’s government for another five years. Now brace up as not even five months are left to go for the polls,” he said while releasing several books brought out by the state’s information department.

He hit out at the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leadership, saying the party engaged in mindless construction when it was in power in Uttar Pradesh but his government focused on work that would serve the people.

The chief minister also targeted the BJP over its promise of Achhe Din and said it was in Uttar Pradesh that maximum bank accounts were opened.

“Much is talked about the Jan Dhan Yojana. Even in that scheme, while Uttar Pradesh contributed in a big way, our Samajwadi Pension Scheme has also seen many poor people getting their accounts opened. In fact, nearly 55 lakh bank accounts were opened due to our efforts,” he said.