LS polls this time will bring 'mahaparivartan': Akhilesh

Deoband (UP): Accusing the BJP-led NDA government of creating more rifts in the society than the British during colonial rule, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Sunday said this time, the Lok Sabha elections are to bring a "mahaparivartan".

Kicking off a joint campaign of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance here in western Uttar Pradesh, Yadav asked the BJP leaders to resolve not to lie during the auspicious occasion of 'Navaratri'.

Referring to the 2014 parliamentary election, the Samajwadi Party chief said, "He (Modi) came as a chaiwala (tea-seller) and we all believed (him) for the sake of 'achche din' and crores of jobs. But now, when elections have come again they say they are chowkidar (watchmen)."

"This time, we all will together snatch the 'chowki' (seat) of every single chowkidar," he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi coining an acronym 'SARAB' (alcohol) from the initial letters of the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party tie-up, Yadav said, "Our alliance is being termed 'milawat (adulterated) alliance', but those who talk about SARAB are intoxicated by power."

The Samajwadi party chief stressed that the dreams of socialist thinkers Ram Manohar Lohia and Kanshi Ram will be fulfilled by the alliance.

"The coming election is for 'mahaparivartan' (grand change)... this is the alliance of giving a new government and a new PM," he told the gathering.

On the prime minister washing the feet of sanitation workers at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, the SP president said, "Everyone saw on TV when feet were being washed, but at the same time, jobs of the minorities and others were washed off."

The promise of 'achche din' (good days) has turned out to be 'burey din' (bad days). They (BJP)... brought GST, which benefitted big businessmen but the small ones remained harassed, he alleged.

Taking a dig at the prime minister for making claims of all-round success, Yadav said, "The prime minister is making claims, but statistics prove the country is going backwards in all areas... They created walls within society, when what was required was that progress be made with the help of schemes."

He asked the BJP leaders to resolve never to tell lies, and said, "I have taken the same resolve this 'Navaratri'."

RLD chief Ajit Singh took a swipe at the BJP's "achche din" promise on Sunday, saying the good days were not meant for the people of the country but for Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Addressing a rally here, which witnessed the top leadership of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance coming on one platform to kick-off the joint campaign of the "mahagathbandhan" for the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls slated for April 11, Singh said, "What has PM Modi done in five years? He was not talking about your achche din, but his own achche din."

Elated over the massive turnout at the rally, Singh, a prominent Jat leader from the area, said it was an indication that the ruling Bharatiya

Janata Party (BJP) was going to be wiped out in the coming polls.