SP-BSP-RLD alliance is for 'mega transformation', says Akhilesh Yadav at Deoband rally

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making false promises to the people and said that things will change for better after Lok Sabha Elections 2019. "He has been lying to people over jobs and poverty eradication schemes but after this election, things will improve. They call our alliance ‘milawati gathbandhan’ but let us tell you that this alliance is not for ‘milawat’, this is for ‘mahaparivartan’ (mega transformation)," the Samajwadi Party chief said. 

“Where are the promises that he made before the 2014 elections, where are ‘achche din’, Rs 15 lakh, crores of jobs?" Akhilesh asked.

Asserting that the prime minister made only false promises, the Samajwadi Party chief said first he came as 'chaiwala' and now he has come as a 'chowkidar' to cheat us. "First he came as a Chaiwala, we trusted him. Now, he has come as a chowkidar to cheat us," he said in Deoband. 

"We want to appeal to the BJP...in this holy period of navratris, you should pledge not to lie. The poor cannot get proper healthcare, we want to ensure free healthcare facilties for them," Akhilesh Yadav.

Akhilesh said there's not much difference between Congress and BJP as they almost have almost the same policies. "They are both same. This grand alliance is meant to bring change in the country, but Congress party doesn’t want that, it wants to form a government in UP," he said. 

Earlier, BSP chief Mayawati asked the minorities to vote en bloc for the BSP-SP-RLD alliance after accusing the Congress of trying to split the anti-BJP votes.

"If Muslims want BJP to lose, they have to stand firmly behind Gathbandhan."

The SP and the BSP, which announced their alliance in January, will contest on 37 and 38 seats respectively. The RLD will fight on three seats. The alliance has decided not to field candidates from Rae Bareli and Amethi, the constituencies held by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Yadav, Mayawati and RLD's Ajit Singh will address 11 joint rallies between April 7 and May 16, a spokesperson said. After Deoband, rallies will be held in Badaun, Agra, Mainpuri, Rampur, Firozabad, Kannauj, Faizabad, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. In Mainpuri, the SP has fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav, while Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav is contesting from Kannauj.