Didn't campaign in by-polls as party workers said my presence not needed: Akhilesh Yadav

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said he did not campaign in Azamgarh and Rampur constituencies in the by-elections to the Lok Sabha as partymen had assured him that his presence was not required there. Yadav charged that the state government officials deleted SP supporters’ names from the voters’ list, distributed money and sent “trucks of liquor”. He presented his defence for the first time after his party’s stunning loss in the by-elections in Azamgarh and Rampur. The seats were vacated by Yadav and veteran party leader Azam Khan following their election to the state assembly. The SP chief’s absence from campaign has been cited as a reason behind party’s defeat in its traditional strongholds. “My partymen had said that there is no need for me to come and they will win. I had faith in my organisation and people, but I did not know that officers would not allow people to go to vote, lure voters, distribute money, and send trucks of liquor,” Yadav said. “SP votes were identified and their names were cut from the voters list,” he told reporters while launching a party membership drive here. Pointing to the reports of Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak seeking details over the transfers done in the health department, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly had said, “some forces are running the (BJP) government in the state from behind”. “Deputy CM had gone out of Lucknow and when he returned he came to know that transfers were done in his department without his knowledge,” he said. “He is the same Deputy CM, who is conducting raids and has found shortcomings. But, has he initiated action against anyone? It shows that ‘Koi sarkar peeche se chala raha hai’ (someone is running the government from behind),” Yadav added. Earlier, with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SP supremo launched the party’s membership drive. The membership drive, according to party leaders, is an attempt to strengthen the party base ahead of the elections. In the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the SP won 111 seats, while the BJP and its allies got 273 seats and retained power. Read all the Latest News , Trending News ,  Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.