Mulayam enters poll fray, files nomination papers

Etawah, Mar 20: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav today filed his nomination papers from the Bharthana assembly constituency here.

Mr Yadav's nomination was proposed by former Kannauj MP Pradeep Yadav, Bharthana's sitting MLA Vinod Yadav Kakka and district SP chief Ashok Yadav.

He will also file his nomination from the Gunnaur seat in Badaun district, which he currently represents in the assembly.

Later, addressing a public meeting, Mr Yadav alleged the Congress-led UPA government was hatching a conspiracy to ''destroy'' his party.

''The Centre wants to punish us for fighting in favour of the poor, farmers and labourers of the state,'' he claimed.

The Chief Minister flayed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying they were involved in the conspiracy against his party.

''The Election Commission is taking stricter measures, since it feels the SP wants to win the election through dubious means,'' he said and exhorted party workers to work hard and ensure the SP's victory in the coming assembly poll.

In his address, SP general secretary Amar Singh alleged that Ms Gandhi and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee were planning to ''eliminate'' the UP CM.

Taking a swipe at Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi's UP roadshow, Mr Singh said he (Rahul) was merely ''roaming around with little public support''.

Polling in Bharthana would be held on April 7 as part of the seven-phase polling in UP.

UNI

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