Lucknow:
Responding to Rajbhar’s comments suggesting a “major political realignment” within the Samajwadi Party, Yadav said, “Dana aur gana kab tak chalega yeh afsana,” implying that such political narratives would not continue for long.
SP MP Rajeev Rai also rejected Rajbhar’s claim and accused him of making purposeless remarks. “I had said during the Lok Sabha elections in Ghosi that there is a disease of ‘bakbak-itis’. If there is no cure for it, are we responsible? Why do you take all three of them — father and sons — so seriously? This disease also spreads pollution. Don’t ask,” Rai said.
Meanwhile, with preparations picking up ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Akhilesh said the SP had resolved to change political outcomes in Gorakhpur and defeat the BJP in the region.
“This time, we will work to bring the BJP to zero in Gorakhpur,” he said at a press conference in Lucknow. “We have resolved to change the results in Gorakhpur. Very soon, the party organisation will decide when to hold a party meeting there.”
Targeting the Yogi Adityanath government, Akhilesh alleged that the BJP’s ten-year tenure had weakened the education system in Gorakhpur by shutting down a large number of primary schools.
“The Chief Minister has closed 500 primary schools in Gorakhpur alone and has been responsible for snatching away 1,500 government jobs. While there were over 2,000 primary schools in 2017, only a handful remain today,” he alleged.
He also attacked the state government over law and order, claiming that Uttar Pradesh now ranks first in crime and that Gorakhpur has seen a rise in atrocities against Dalits. He further alleged that Primary Health Centres exist “in name only” and accused the government of weakening public services to push people towards private hospitals.
Akhilesh said the condition of the Chief Minister’s own constituency reflected wider administrative failure. “The Chief Minister is effectively running a ‘Gorakh dhandha’ in his own district,” he said, adding that the Gorakhpur Link Expressway was in a “pathetic state”.
“If the Chief Minister cannot manage his own home constituency, the condition of the rest of the state is easily imaginable,” he said.
The SP chief also levelled allegations over the Kundarki Assembly elections, claiming there was “blatant dishonesty” and that CCTV footage was not released because it would expose irregularities. He further alleged that land had been taken from people in Ayodhya, leaving farmers and traders distressed, while public ponds were being encroached upon.