Mayawati mocks Akhilesh's yatra, says family feud far from over

LUCKNOW: Mocking Akhilesh Yadav's campaign launched today as "badhaal vikas (dismal development) yatra", BSP supremo Mayawati today asked the people of poll-bound Uttar Pradesh not to be misled by it and claimed that the feud within the Samajwadi Party was far from over.

"The yatra which got off today is in fact the 'badhaal vikas yatra' of the helpless Chief Minister entangled in controversy in the SP family and government... most of those present in it had come to blows on roads and inside the CM office during the recent family feud," she said.

"Today too, both the feuding factions came to blows and tore each others posters and banners.... I appeal to the people of the state not to get misled as such a government cannot benefit the state," she said in a statement.

Drawing similarities with the June 2, 1995 State Guest House case when close confidants of the then chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav "were baying for blood" after she withdrew support to SP government, she said there appeared to be "no difference between the father and son" while dealing with their opponents.

"As Mulayam did not act against those indulging in violence, his son too has not taken any action against ministers and leaders showing criminal behaviour who also defied the directives of state unit president," she said.

Alleging that there was a secret understanding between SP and BJP, she said despite the turmoil in the state, the "governor says that there is no constitutional crisis and BJP top leadership maintains silence on it".

She claimed there was misuse of government funds by Akhilesh for improving his image and said "all this money could have been put to better use for improving the lot of poor and needy".

She also took a dig at the chief minister who had been complaining that people of the state do not recognise him because of lack of publicity, saying it goes on to prove how mayny votes he will get in the coming elections.

Referring to various law and order issues in the state over the past four years, she said Akhilesh is answerable to the people.

Ending days of suspense, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, with Shivpal Yadav in tow, today flagged off his son Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's 'vikas rath yatra'

It is seen as an attempt project a united face after a bitter public power struggle between Akhilesh and his uncle Shivpal that threatened to derail the party's Assembly poll campaign.