Political crossfire intensifies in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh

Hardoi/ Faizabad/ Rampur, Jan 31 (ANI): As the date for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh comes closer, political parties and leaders are engage in a simmering war of words, throwing potshots at one other in a bid to clinch a win in the crucial seven-phased election.

Talking a dig at Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Satish Mishra said he mocks the poor through his frequent visits to their homes.

Addressing a rally in Hardoi, Mishra said Gandhi likes to make fun of the poor in front of his foreign friends, and added that visiting their homes was nothing more than a picnic for him.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) visits the homes of poor just to mock at them and make fun of them, whereas we are working for the upliftment of the people. He goes to the homes of poor with his foreign friends and organise picnic there. And after the picnic they make fun of the poor. The BSP does not indulge in such acts," Mishra added.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav made fun of Chief Minister Mayawati for cevering statues herself and her party symbol, the elephant.

"Mayawati has been closed in a box, anyone can confirm it in Lucknow. The government has boxed down Chief Minister and no Chief Minister would have faced such a dilemma that those officials who constructed her statues are now covering them up and putting them in boxes," Yadav said in Faizabad.

Rashtriya Lok Manch vice-president and actress Jayaprada criticized SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for promising government jobs and compensation to all rape victims, if elected to power.

"This statement is just appalling. To give government jobs and compensation to rape victim's means you are prompting criminals to. You can rape serially and we will be giving, compensation, we will be giving employment. Where is the justice?" Jaya Prada asked media in Rampur.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

Polls in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted between February 8 and March 3, and the counting will take place on March 6.

Uttar Pradesh will elect a new 403-member state assembly in March, and the poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)

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