The Samajwadi Party and the BJP today hurled accusations at each other over the damage seen at the government bungalow vacated by SP president Akhilesh Yadav.
Pictures and video clips showed damage to a cycle track, on walls after air-conditioners seemed to have been removed and to the floor of what seemed to be a badminton court at the bungalow here.
The Samajwadi Party played down the damage, asking why the state of the homes recently vacated by other former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers in compliance with a Supreme Court order was not being shown.
The BJP mocked the SP chief, saying the damage showed Akhilesh Yadav's frustration.
Last night, Yadav handed over the keys of the official bungalow on Vikramaditya Marg to the UP estates department, an official said.
After this, the authorities let photographers to enter the premises.
Yadav had moved out a few days earlier, complying with the Supreme Court order on May 7 that former UP chief ministers cannot retain government accommodation in Lucknow.
Following the SC order, the UP estates department had issued notices to six former chief ministers - Narayan Dutt Tiwari, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati, Rajnath Singh and Akhilesh Yadav.
Barring Congress veteran N D Tiwari, who is ailing in Delhi, all of them have now handed over their official bungalows.
The SP said the video clips indicated that the BJP was worried over Yadav's popularity.
"This is an attempt by the Yogi Adityanath government to misguide the people of the state and tarnish Akhilesh Yadav's image," SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan said.
He asked why the official bungalows allotted to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh were not shown to the media after they vacated them.
"The reason is that after the electoral losses in Gorakhpur, Phulpur, Kairana and Noorpur, Akhilesh Yadav's popularity is increasing, and it has given cause for worry to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath."
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