BJP’s national secretary Shrikant Sharma alleged that SP wanted to throw the state into ‘communal fire’ as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav knew that “his government had failed on all fronts and lost people’s trust.” He dismissed Akhilesh’s decision to sack his minister, Balram Yadav, for allegedly facilitating the merger, as an "eyewash".
"People had voted for the SP to get the state rid of corruption and crime, which was prevalent during the Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) rule. The Akhilesh government has failed on all fronts and ‘goonda raj’ is everywhere. It has become SP’s practice to shelter criminals and seek their support," he added.
"This merger is the height of vote-bank and appeasement politics. SP wants to win polls with the help of criminals, rioters and gangsters," Sharma alleged, adding that people would not let SP vitiate the atmosphere and would vote it out.
The merger was announced by senior Cabinet Minister and Akhilesh’s uncle Shipal Yadav on Tuesday, with some party sources claiming that the CM was “unhappy” with the move.