Akhilesh begins campaign from Gorakhpur, hits out at Yogi  

Even as Adityanath and BJP leaders are campaigning over the government’s action against mafia and criminals, the SP chief targeted the ruling BJP over law and order in the state. “People are tired of criminal incidents in the state. The incidents of rape and robbery are at peak. This is happening under the BJP’s rule,” Akhilesh said as he campaigned for Kajal Nishad, the party’s mayoral candidate from Gorakhpur.

The SP chief also alleged that the BJP failed to get garbage removed from the cities and did not clean the drains in the last six years of its rule.

“The BJP has not been able to clear potholes on the roads. It collects all kinds of taxes but in return, can’t provide basic amenities. They have cheated people in the name of Smart Cities and there has been rampant corruption in the projects. It is the duty of municipal corporations to free the streets from stray cattle and to connect the drains to sewage lines. Instead of talking about these basic issues, the chief minister (Yogi Adityanath) keeps talking about random issues,” the SP chief said.

“In 2017, the CM had announced that he will get a Metro train built in Gorakhpur, but till today, it is not visible,” he added.

Alleging “rampant corruption” in government works, Akhilesh said: “The day the roads are built, they fall apart. No skill is being used in building of roads… Those who levelled allegations on the Samajwadis, are now spending Rs 5,000 crore on Gorakhpur Link Expressway. Despite with such a big budget, the expressway couldn’t be built.”

The former chief minister also spoke about inflation and unemployment. “People are buying milk, cooking oil, flour, and pulses at a high price. Youth is running around for jobs. For all this, the BJP is responsible. People are sick of the BJP and have made up their minds for change. The SP has defeated the BJP in Gorakhpur in the past and will do so again,” Akhilesh said.
He also reiterated his party’s demand for a caste census in the state.

“We want a caste census so that all the communities can get their due as per their population. Hearing about the caste census, the BJP becomes silent,” said Akhilesh.

The SP chief also campaigned in Deoria and Sant Kabir Nagar districts in east UP.