SP-BSP alliance will win maximum number of seats in Uttar Pradesh: Akhilesh Yadav to Zee News

May 5 (AZINS) Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in an exclusive interview with Zee News spoke about his party's performance in Lok Sabha election 2019, on the Mahagathbandhan, politics of the BJP, Masood Azhar and other issues.

Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is contesting Lok Sabha election 2019 in alliance with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). The elections in Uttar Pradesh are being held in all seven phases of parliamentary elections.

The coming of SP-BSP together can be seen as an attempt by both the parties to defeat BJP which bagged 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and also won 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. However, it was after the by-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur when SP-BSP experimented alliance on two seats and won them, both the parties have come together in Lok Sabha election 2019.   

Here are the Highlights of Akhilesh Yadav's interview to Zee News

• SP-BSP alliance will bag maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. People were waiting to cast their vote and express their anger against the present government.
• Our alliance is an alliance for the future, though there have been attempts to create misunderstandings or break the alliance.
• PM Modi always takes a U-turn, he does totally opposite of what he always speaks.
• BJP is not talking about its achievements. It is under this government's tenure, terrorism has witnessed a rise as a maximum of security personnel or army jawans have been martyred.
• The biggest challenge which I see is that people should be able to cast their vote. Because people are not voting for the BJP, therefore, they are trying to create administration's pressure. Opposition complaints are not being heard.
• BJP is only interested to break or create misunderstands between other parties or but not talking about its achievements in the last 5 years. It has been a habit of the BJP to create fights.
• BJP tactics won't be working this time because SP-BSP alliance is strong and on May 23, the country will get a new prime minister.
• Acche Din have not come but bad days have arrived.
• People are going to cast their vote against those who have betrayed them.
• This election is different because there is going to be a new government in the centre as people are going to teach a lesson to the BJP. These days, the BJP is not talking about Digital India or Make-in-India.
• BJP's nationalism is only to gain votes. Army personnel have not been given good bullet-proof jackets.
• BJP is trying to divert attention from real issues. Strikes (surgical strike) is always carried out by the army, it is because of them the country is strong and secure. The government only wants to garner votes on the achievements of the army but it doesn't want to help them.
• It is not a strong government but a one which wants to end the rule of truth in the country. Such times have come when if someone raises a question then they are tagged as anti-nationals.
• It was during the by-election in Gorakhpur and Phulpur when I had a conversation with Mayawati for the first time and SP-BSP alliance was initiated. Cadres of both the parties have come together and this alliance is the best alliance of the nation which is stopping the BJP.
• Peoples' alliance will defeat the alliance of power. There is no pressure on the Samajwadi Party. If SP-BSP has entered in an alliance then BJP has done an alliance with ED, CBI and Income Tax.
• After the elections, SP-BSP will jointly participate to decide the next prime minister. The nation will get a new Prime Minister after elections.
• We are not angry with UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. He should do good work but he's not doing. He has stopped all developmental works in the state.
• BJP is not fighting seriously in Azamgarh. We have done development in Azamgarh and it is on the basis of that we will win elections. It will be once again that in Gorakhpur, SP-BSP alliance will win the election.
• Wild animals had been an issue in the state, but BJP failed to resolve that. Many people have lost their lives due to bull attack as they are roaming free. Both people and animals are angry with the government.
• Speaking on the listing of Masood Azhar as UN designated global terrorist, Akhilesh Yadav said that it is India's diplomatic win. Officials have done a good job. Pakistan should act against Azhar as we all our against terrorism but BJP wants to take political benefit out of it.