Akhilesh silences critics, says Samajwadi Party belongs to 'Netaji'

Attempting to downplay the ongoing feud in the Samajwadi Party, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday told the voters in Mulayam Singh Yadav's stronghold of Mainpuri that the party belongs to 'Netaji' and added that some tough decisions had to be taken in the wake of the ongoing political developments.

"There is no confusion and we are very clear that this party is of Netaji. However, we had to take some tough decisions to deal with the ongoing challenges," he said.

Akhilesh also used the occasion to take a jibe at Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, considered a strong loyalist of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Earlier, he taught us yoga and now he is selling products like toothpaste, ghee, biscuit etc.We gave him 400 acres of land so that he can help the farmers," he said.

Highlighting the infrastructure and road construction work in the state, he said, "American has constructed roads and roads have constructed America. Similarly, the people of Uttar Pradesh are always going to remember the work done by the Samajwadi Party government."

Continuing his tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Akhilesh said the BJP-led NDA regime's demonetisation drive has hurt the Indian economy.

Talking about the Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance, he said that this grouping will free Uttar Pradesh from all communal forces.

In Uttar Pradesh, nominations for seventh and last phase is going to end today total 365 nomination papers were filed till yesterday for the last phase.

In this phase, seven districts including the Prime Minister's constituency Varanasi, Sonbhadra, Jaunpur, Mirzapur, Gazipur, Chandauli and Bhadoi districts will vote.

Meanwhile, hectic campaigning is on for the third and fourth phase elections in the state.