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Defending his decision to break away from the Samajwadi Party (SP) to join hands with the BJP just before the Lok Sabha elections, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary on Wednesday called it a “strategic move” and took a dig at Akhilesh Yadav for his “chavanni” (penny) jibe at his former ally.
Speaking at a rally of the BJP in Muzaffarnagar attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jayant used a wrestling phrase and said: “Mein palta nahi hoon. Ishe patakhni marna kehta hai (I didn’t flip. It’s called pinning the opponent to the ground). He (Akhilesh) knows a little bit about wrestling. I also know a little bit.”
On Sunday, when asked about his former ally sharing the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had said: “It is possible that the prime minister may ask who this chavanni (penny) is.” Last year, amid speculation of RLD joining the BJP, Jayant had said, “Am I a chavanni (penny) that I will turn like this?”
Without naming Akhilesh, Jayant, who was elected to Rajya Sabha with SP’s support, on Wednesday said, “I have heard a statement of a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Until now I have not said anything to him. He may want to abuse. I don’t care but I want to tell you one thing. I have a special appeal to the people of Muzaffarnagar… Vote in such a way that they know that I have not turned back.”
Saying that he has faith in the BJP in ensuring the welfare of farmers since the government honoured his grandfather Chaudhary Charan Singh with Bharat Ratna, the RLD chief accused the Opposition INDIA bloc of “fooling people by using Charan Singh’s name for getting votes”.
— With PTI Inputs
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