Going solo in bypolls helped expose BJP's 'darker side': Akhilesh Yadav

The decision by opposition parties to go solo in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls helped expose the BJP's "darker side" and effectively conveyed message of their "failure", Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav said.

Fresh from the SP's victory in bypolls, Yadav also said that he will revamp the party soon.

The SP turned out to be a major gainer in the UP Assembly bypolls for 11 seats, wresting a seat each from the ruling BJP and the BSP, while the NDA got eight, one less than it held.

Hitting out at the BJP, Yadav said the people voted against the saffron party and the politics of hatred, casteism and corruption.

"The BJP used to shield itself from its failure on issues related to the common man by making allegations whenever we formed an alliance to take on the saffron party jointly.

"They used to say that all political parties have ganged up against the BJP and the message of their failure could not be properly conveyed," Yadav told PTI in his first interview after the bypoll outcome.

"Now the same thing is being said by opposition parties separately and people have got to know the darker side of the BJP as it could not counter the opposition onslaught. The more people know the reality of the BJP, the more they will get disenchanted with it," he said.

About the SP's role in the future, Yadav said, "The message is clear. Those who work on the ground will gain and emerge victorious. We will continue to raise issues of people's interest and will stand with them."
About possibility of the SP forming an alliance in the future, he said, "I have taken political risks. Arithmetic is done in elections...but all fail in front of those who remain with the people and raise their voice."
Citing the victory of SP candidates in Jalalpur and Ghosi Assembly seats, he said, "In Jalalpur our candidate Subhash Rai won as he got votes of all sections. He did not have any arithmetic in his favour but he won as he was there with the people."