In a bid to maximise its number of MPs, Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Samajwadi Party on Thursday knocked on Jharkhand’s doors with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav addressing a rally of SP workers in Ranchi and predicting the emergence of a “secular, pro-poor, third front” government at the Centre.
Citing the socio-economic change taking place in UP due to the SP government’s welfare schemes and blaming the Congress for the country’s economic slowdown, Mr Yadav told a rally in the Jharkhand capital that a secular third front was building up to challenge both the Congress and the BJP. He asked SP workers in Jharkhand to spread the party’s achievements in UP and to build the SP in Jharkhand into a strong contender during the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
“Today the country is looking at the Samajwadi Party and other secular leaders. We are optimistic that a secular Third Front will emerge soon to challenge the Congress and BJP, and resolve the problems of the people of all sections of the society,” said Mr Yadav at the rally in Morabadi grounds.
Mr Yadav, who reached Ranchi on Wednesday afternoon and stayed as a state guest of Jharkhand’s JMM-Congress-RJD government, attacked the Congress on the issues of corruption and economic slowdown. He questioned the efficacy of the food security law in the absence of a proper mechanism.
Undeterred by the SP’s dismal performance in past elections in Jharkhand, Yadav made it clear that his party would contest both the LS and Assembly polls in the state.