LUCKNOW: Political tempers flared across Uttar Pradesh following the announcement of results for 11 Legislative Council (MLC) seats, prompting Cabinet Minister and SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar to launch a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav over the Congress party’s dismal showing.
Taking to social media platform X, Rajbhar sarcastically congratulated Yadav on SP’s performance before taking a dig at his alliance partner, Rahul Gandhi. Pointing out that Congress failed to field viable candidates in Uttar Pradesh and ended up with a zero seat tally, Rajbhar warned the SP chief that Congress-which views itself as the “elder brother” in the coalition-would demand over 200 assembly seats in upcoming state elections. He urged Yadav to remind Congress of its electoral absence and zero returns during seat-sharing negotiations.
In response, Akhilesh Yadav extended his gratitude to winning SP candidates and party workers while appealing for calm. Fearing potential provocations, Yadav instructed supporters to avoid loud victory rallies or street celebrations that could give political opponents a pretext to disrupt communal harmony. He also directed newly elected MLCs to compile lists of dedicated ground workers and accused the ruling BJP of conspiring to misrepresent poll outcomes and tamper with counting procedures.
Out of the 11 Council seats up for grabs across Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies, the ruling BJP secured six victories, while maintaining a narrow lead in the ongoing Varanasi Graduates vote count.
