Uttar Pradesh's opposition parties hit the poll path

Leaders of all major opposition parties are stepping up their engagement with their supporters, with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident proving to be a major springboard to launch their respective political campaigns.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took out the first leg of his 'Vijay Rath Yatra' from Kanpur to Hamirpur on Tuesday. Thousands of SP workers and supporters thronged to catch a glimpse of Yadav who rode on a bus fashioned as a 'rath' while he stood atop, greeting supporters. He also addressed a large gathering in Ghatampur where former Congress MP Rajaram Pal - a prominent backward face of the Congress - joined the SP. Yadav attacked the BJP on a range of issues including its failed promise of cleaning the river Ganga, increased price of electricity, anti-Constitutional activities, among others. Yadav's uncle, Shivpal Yadav, too initiated a 'Samajik Parivartan Rath Yatra' from Mathura after offering prayers at the Bankebihari temple. The yatra will end in Raebareily after covering the entire state in seven phases. Curiously, Yadav was joined on his rath by senior Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam, a key aide of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. While this triggered speculation of the two coming together, Krishnam said he was there to support Yadav in his personal capacity.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary in-charge of UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Singh took part in the antim ardaas of the four farmers and local journalist Raman Kashyap, held in Lakhimpur Kheri, where thousands of farmers assembled.