SP’s merger drama a ploy to deflect issues like Kairana exodus: Yogi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath said that merging of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's Qwami Ekta Dal with Samajwadi Party (SP), which called off the tie-up after facing all-round flak, was a ploy to deflect the main issues like Kairana exodus. 

Yogi, Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur said, “This is a political drama. They are trying to deflect the main issues as it shows how the party has been backing such anti-social elements." 

BJP dubbed the development as the 'unholy political interest for polarising vote bank'. Lok Sabha MP Yogi Adityanath launched an attack on Akhilesh Yadav-led SP government of UP, saying that, “The political crossover with a party led by such criminal, shows the political interest of the party."

Yogi accused the CM Akhilesh Yadav of failing to control the law and order situation of the poll-bound state. He said, “The present condition of the state is vulnerable. People are victimized of extortion by the party legislators. Kairana exodus is one of the examples. People from Hindu community were compelled to migrate since last five years." "Mukhtar Ansari has been in support of SP. The decision of merger shows how the party leadership is desperate to gain the minority vote to win the upcoming Assembly polls. This is a filthy political game," he added.

However, the chief minister of the state put his foot down and asserted his disparity over this political crossover. Even he sacked Balram Yadav, one of his cabinet ministers, for being the arbitrator of the merger. The announcement of the political crossover was made by Akhilesh's uncle Shivpal Yadav. Though later on, after the decision drew flak from all the quarters, the party called off its merger with Ansari's party. 

Yogi expressed his optimism that BJP would win the upcoming UP Assembly polls. "People witnessed our historic win in the Lok Sabha Election, 2014. We won 71 seats, out of 80. Unlikely, we will win this time, too," he said. However, he dismissed the political buzz over his chief ministerial candidature for the election. The BJP MP may get a wildcard entry in the shortlist of probable CM candidates of UP. “The party president and the Prime Minister will be taking the decision," Yogi added.