Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav filed his nomination papers on Thursday, 18 April, for the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat and exhorted the people of Purvanchal to remove the “dictatorial” BJP government in the state.
The SP chief, accompanied by Bahujan Samaj Party national general secretary Satish Chandra Misra, arrived in Azamgarh on Thursday morning to a rousing reception by party workers who had gathered in large numbers.
He later drove to the Collectorate to file his nomination papers as party supporters raised slogans outside.
‘Azamgarh - Karmabhoomi of Samajwadis’
Coming out after filing his papers, the SP chief said Azamgarh is the 'karmabhoomi' of 'samajwadis' and exuded confidence that the people will continue to repose their faith in him by giving him blessings and support.
Addressing an election meeting at the Baitholi by pass, Akhilesh Yadav said the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in the state is an alliance of 'mahaparivartan' and not 'mahamilawat' (adulterated) as termed by the BJP.
"There are only three parties in our alliance whereas the BJP has an alliance with 38 parties... It is their alliance which is mahamilavati," he said.
"I have come here to file nomination with the blessings of Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) and Mayawatiji (BSP president)... the BJP has done nothing other than betraying everyone including the 'shiksh mitras' and 'anganwadi' workers... the people of Purvanchanl will remove the dictatorial government," he said.
Akhilesh-Dimple Declare Assets Worth Rs 37 Crore
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav owns assets worth over Rs 37 crore together with his wife Dimple, according to his poll affidavit filed on Thursday.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister has declared moveable property worth Rs 7.9 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 16.90 crore, in the affidavit submitted with the nomination paper.
His wife Dimple has declared Rs 3.68 crore worth movable properties and immovable assets of Rs 9.30 crore.
Akhilesh's income has decreased to Rs 84.83 lakh in financial year 2017-2018, when compared to Rs 1.25 crore in 2013-14.
His wife Dimple Yadav's income, however, has increased. While in the 2013-14 financial year, her annual income was Rs 28,31,838, in 2017-18 it increased to Rs 61,16,108.
As per the affidavit, Akhliesh has Rs 3.91 lakh cash in hand while Dimple has Rs 4,03,743 cash in hand.
Akhilesh owns a cellular phone worth Rs 76,000, furniture of Rs 17,085 and exercise equipment worth over Rs 5.34 lakh, while wife Dimple has jewellery items including gold, diamond, pearl worth Rs 59.76 lakh and computer of Rs 1.25 lakh.
In the 2014 affidavit, when Akhilesh did not contest Lok Sabha polls but Dimple did, she had declared her assets worth Rs 7.92 crore while her husband had over Rs 16 crore.
Akhilesh Yadav is seeking election from the seat won by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav in the 2014 general elections and is pitted against Bhojpuri superstar Nirahua or Dinesh Lal Yadav of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mulayam Singh Yadav had bagged Azamgarh along with the Mainpuri seat, which he had represented thrice earlier in 1996, 2004 and 2009. He later chose to retain Azamgarh.
Polling in Azamgarh is slated for the sixth phase on 12 May.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)