Destiny made me CM, says Akhilesh

Lucknow, Aug 31: In a rather unusual candid admission, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said it was "destiny" which made him head the government in Uttar Pradesh where doing politics was "very difficult".

"Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) gave me this opportunity and I believe in destiny...others (MLAs) have to work really hard to reach this position...they have covered a very long and arduous path," he said.

Akhilesh was speaking in the state assembly while honouring 10 senior MLAs who have completed 25 years in the House.

In an emotionally surcharged atmosphere, he acknowledged that doing politics in Uttar Pradesh was "very difficult" and "those who have completed this long journey have won people's heart and made direct contact with the masses".

In a lighter vein, the Chief Minister said change was eternal and it would be "change for good" if his party retains power (in the 2017 Assembly polls) for the second consecutive term.

No party has been in power for consecutive terms in over two decades in Uttar Pradesh. The MLAs honoured were Mata Prasad Pandey (Speaker), Azam Khan, Avdhesh Prasad, Durga Prasad Yadav, Narendra Singh Yadav, Rajiv Kumar Singh, Ram Govind Chaudhary (all SP), Suresh Khanna, Shyam Deo Roychaudhury (BJP) and Shayam Sunder Sharma (BSP).

The members were presented shawl and mementos by the speaker and the chief minister.

PTI