SP silver jubilee celebrations: SP will unitedly fight elections, says Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday denied any rift within the ruling Samajwadi Party and said all party leaders will "unitedly" fight the 2017 assembly elections on the SP symbol.

"There is no rift in the party, and all of us will fight the elections on the party's symbol 'cycle'," Akhilesh Yadav told reporters on the sidelines of the SP's Silver Jubilee gala here.

The Chief Minister's remarks came after his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav earlier made an indirect attack on him at the event.

Asked if there were chances of an alliance with the Congress, the Chief Minister said, "I have left the decision of alliance with Netaji ( Mulayam Singh Yadav)."

Emphasising on the 25th year celebrations of the party, Akhilesh said, "We are spreading the ideology of Samajwad (socialism) in the country."

The Chief Minister also thanked former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and noted Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani for attending the event.

Addressing the crowd earlier, Akhilesh's uncle, Shivpal Yadav, referring to his dismissal twice from the state cabinet recently, said he was neither greedy for any post nor any ministry.

If required, the SP leader said he was ready to give even his blood and everything for the Samajwadi Party.
Pointing at Gayatrai Prasad Prajapati, who was sacked by him earlier, Akhilesh said without any reference, "Prajapati has given be sword (at the event). You gave me sowrd and don't want to use it."

Earlier, when the event started, Akhilesh and Shivpal were given swords which they accepted smilingly.

Highlighting works of his government, the UP CM said that besides starting metro, construction of roads and expressway, pension was given to 55 lakh women.

"In past 25 years, SP has come a long way but we have to think for next 25 years. Socialist ideolgy will take us forward. We were labeled as anti-English but we clarified that it is so when it is at the cost of 'Lokbhasha'," he said.

Calling laptop scheme, the most ambitious scheme of his government, Akhilesh claimed that no where in the country any government did so.

Speaking about the venue of the event - Janeshwar Mishra park, he said that 'Netaji' (Mulayam) had made Ram Manohar Lohia park, where people go to "take oxygen".

"We have made 400 acre Janeshwar Mishra park, which is 'biggest' in the world. Despite so much crowd, which is disperesed in the entire park, the park is looking empty..."