Akhilesh Yadav confident of returning to power in 2017

Completes 4 years in office today

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who completed four years in office today, said that he is confident that his Samajwadi Party government would return to power next year.

Addressing a news conference here, Yadav said there were instances aplenty when state governments had been re-elected owing to good governance and development works, even as he refrained from suggesting names.

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He said his government had delivered on the promise of significant improvement in power situation and availability of electricity in both urban and rural areas in the state.

"This momentum will continue and if the people give us their blessings, the state government would fulfill its agenda of 24 hr power supply in the state," he said.

On the occasion, he unveiled and laid foundation of power projects worth Rs 3,712 crore.

In 2012, the total power availability in UP was to the tune of 8,500 megawatts (MW), which is targetted to be ramped up to 17,500 MW by October 2016.

By October 2016, the government is aiming to providing 16 hr, 22 hrs and 24 hr power supply in the villages, district headquarters and major towns/industrial areas.

"My government is liberal and democratic. Everyone has the freedom to express their opinion. We have given functional freedom to officials to perform their duty, although laxity is also taken to task if necessary," he added.

Yadav said the expressways being constructed by the state would not only connect different places, but usher in economic development along their routes, which would benefit all sections of society.

"The Lucknow Metro Rail project is the fastest completing such project in India. We are working on the Gomti riverfront development, which has been widely appreciated," he said.

In his address, he referred to initiatives pertaining to free ambulance service, police, rural projects, farmers, irrigation, agriculture, farmers' insurance, bank branches etc to buttress his stand on development.

"When the opposition does not get any excuse to target my government, they take recourse to the law and order situation," he said and thanked the media for keeping him alert through news.