Bareilly: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav arrived in Bareilly on Wednesday, delivering a strong critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and expressing confidence that Tejashwi Yadav will form the next Bihar government.
Akhilesh Yadav was in Bareilly to attend the wedding of the daughter of Bahedi MLA Ataur Rahman. Following the ceremony, he addressed a press conference and discussed the Bihar Assembly election results. He dismissed exit polls indicating an NDA victory, claiming that the actual outcome would be different once counting begins. “On Friday, as votes are tallied, all exit poll predictions will collapse. In Bihar, only Tejashwi Yadav’s government will come to power,” he asserted.
Criticizing the BJP, Akhilesh alleged that during previous elections, party-favored officials manipulated postings and interfered in the voting process, depriving millions of citizens of their franchise. He accused the Election Commission of ignoring repeated complaints about alleged electoral malpractices. “The BJP government always diverts public attention from real issues,” he said.
Akhilesh also addressed the Special Investigation Report (SIR) in Uttar Pradesh, claiming that its implementation for three months has unnecessarily entangled political parties. Speaking to SP workers, he urged them to act as vigilant guardians of every vote. “No vote should go unprotected. We hope the Election Commission will act impartially this time and not as an agent of the BJP,” he added.
On the local political front, he announced that the SP would prepare a separate manifesto for Bareilly in the upcoming elections, underlining the party’s intent to strengthen its regional presence.
The visit, however, saw a chaotic scene outside SP district president Agam Maurya’s residence. Supporters surged to meet Akhilesh, shaking hands and trying to enter the premises, causing panic and confusion. The crowd’s uncontrolled movement led to minor injuries, including to a police officer and an SP worker, as several people slipped on stairs and ramps while the police struggled to restore order.
Akhilesh’s visit highlighted both the party’s grassroots appeal and the high level of enthusiasm among SP supporters in Bareilly, even as he laid out his political expectations for Bihar.
