Barabanki: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the BJP-led government, rallying support for the PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, and Alpasankhyak) family ahead of the elections in the Barabanki Lok Sabha seat.
Yadav emphasised the significance of Barabanki as the heartland of the Samajwadi Party, highlighting the disillusionment among the PDA family. "PDA has been betrayed the most," Yadav remarked, citing the lack of respect and rights accorded to them by the government.
"The PDA (Pichhde, Dalit and Alpasankhyak) family is going to defeat the BJP-led NDA this time. PDA has been betrayed the most. The respect and rights it deserved, were not given by the current government. This is why the PDA has united to teach a lesson to the BJP," Yadav said.
In the electoral battle for Barabanki, BJP candidate Rajrani Rawat will face off against Tanuj Punia of the Indian National Congress. Yadav expressed confidence in Punia's victory, anticipating a historic turnout of votes in his favour.
"Tanuj Punia ji is set to win this time with historical votes," Yadav said.
Criticising the BJP's tactics, Yadav accused them of engaging in negative politics.
"The negative narrative and negative politics that they were engaged in are not being acknowledged today. The BJP has fallen into its own trap," Yadav said.
Looking beyond Barabanki, Yadav projected a significant victory for the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh.
"This time, UP will get the maximum number of seats for the INDIA bloc. When the result is announced, our MPs will decide who the Prime Minister will be," Yadav said.
Furthermore, Yadav said the elections were crucial for preserving the constitution.
"These elections are to save the constitution because if the constitution is changed, there will be neither equality nor justice. I want to urge the people of Bahujan Samaj to not waste their vote by voting for anyone else except the INDIA bloc," Yadav said.
Barabanki is one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
The Barabanki Lok Sabha Constituency will vote on May 20 in the fifth phase of election.
The constituency includes six segments Kursi, Zaidpur, Ramnagar, Haidergarh, Dariyabad and Barabanki.
The Barabanki Lok Sabha seat used to be a stronghold of the Congress. However, over time, SP and BJP have strengthened their bases in this area.
In the 2019 parliamentary elections, Upendra Singh Rawat of the BJP emerged victorious by securing 535,594 votes. He won against Ram Sagar Rawat of the Samajwadi Party.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Priyanka Singh Rawat of the BJP won. She defeated Congress candidate PL Punia by 211,878 votes. Priyanka Singh Rawat of the BJP received 454,214 votes. PL Punia of Congress received 242,336 votes.
