Lucknow, Jan 15: Samajwadi Party President Yogi Adityanath on Saturday made fun of the BJP’s decision to field Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur in the Assembly elections, saying the state’s ruling party has “sent him home” before the people could do so.
Akhilesh Yadav told the media: “I am happy the party has sent him home. Earlier it was said he will contest from Mathura, Prayagraj and Deoband. Yogi is not a member of the BJP. Therefore, he has been sent home. For this we thank the BJP.”
Adityanath heads the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur.
The former Chief Minister also said he will not induct any more BJP Minister or MLA into his party. “Let the BJP decline tickets to as many MLAs it wants. I am not going to induct any member of any political party except one.”
Two Ministers who quit the Adityanath government and six MLAs who quit the BJP or its ally Apna Dal have been inducted into the Samajwadi Party.
He said the Samajwadi Party was doing inclusive politics and so he welcomed leaders from other parties. “We are doing positive politics or rather progressive politics. There is no negativity involved.”
On female candidates to be fielded by his party, he said that only those who are in a position to win will be given ticket to contest. “We will not give ticket to any candidate who may get defeated.”
Asked who will be the Deputy Chief Minister if the Samajwadi Party forms a government, he said: “There is no post like Deputy CM.”
The Election Commission moved after a crowd gathered at the Samajwadi Party headquarters during a virtual rally on Friday,
Akhilesh Yadav appealed to all the workers to follow the instructions of the poll panel. “A notice has been pasted at our office today. I appeal to all the workers to stay at home and in their localities and follow the Covid protocol.”
