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The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Tuesday reiterated it would not field candidates against Congress president and vice-president, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in Rae Bareli and Amethi parliamentary constituencies respectively.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the SP state president, said the party had not contested the two seats in the 2009 general elections as well.
“In this Lok Sabha poll, the party has decided not to nominate its candidates from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats,” he said at a conference call here.
On the so called “outsiders” and para-dropped candidates in fray in the coming polls, Yadav said it was a dangerous trend for democracy.
“The public representatives cultivate a close bond with the electorate and are there with them in good and bad times. Sadly, companies are now funding poll campaigning of such candidates, who do not belong to their constituencies… thousands of crores are being spent on canvassing,” he claimed.
Replying to a question, Yadav exuded confidence of winning maximum seats in UP. On party's election campaign by taking lead from the first phase itself. “I have been holding public meetings all over the state and I am confident if these crowds get translated into votes, our party would stand first in winning number of seats.”
Hitting back at BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi over his dig that it would be difficult to control “Gujarat Lions” in UP, Yadav said such statements were not required as the lines had been given to the state in exchange of hyenas to Gujarat. “The lions are presently at the Lucknow Zoo and will be kept at a Lion Safari spread across 3,000 acres in Etawah. Work is going on there and it will be completed soon. There were some problems due to ongoing elections," he said. “It’s a political courtesy, he (Modi) has given us something and we have also given him something (hyenas) in exchange (to Gujarat),” he added.
On the occasion, former BJP MP Ashok Patel, Agra mayor Indrajeet Arya, Ambedkar Mahasabha president Lalji Prasad Nirmal and family members of sitting BSP MLA Chootelal Verma joined the SP.
The party would release its manifesto for the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll here on Wednesday.
