Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Thursday took a swipe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying people have pushed his bhaiya (brother) and didi (sister) to the margin. The remark came after the election results in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where the ruling parties faced setbacks.
Maurya's Statement
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Maurya said, "The people of Tamil Nadu and Bengal have given a clear message. They have pushed Akhilesh Yadav's bhaiya and didi to the margin." He was apparently referring to the defeat of DMK in Tamil Nadu and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, though he did not name any party.
Political Context
The deputy CM's comments came a day after the Election Commission declared results for by-elections in several states. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK lost the Erode East constituency, while in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress faced a defeat in the Raiganj bypoll. These results are seen as a setback for the opposition INDIA bloc, which includes the Samajwadi Party.
Maurya also targeted Akhilesh Yadav over his recent remarks on the caste census. "Akhilesh Yadav is trying to divide the society on caste lines. The people have rejected his politics of appeasement," he said.
Reactions from Opposition
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Anurag Bhadouria dismissed Maurya's comments, saying, "The BJP is desperate after its poor performance in by-elections. They are trying to divert attention from real issues like unemployment and inflation."
The political slugfest is expected to intensify as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach. Both the BJP and the opposition are trying to consolidate their bases.
