The political pitch in Uttar Pradesh is getting intense with new developments as the upcoming assembly elections inch closer.
On Monday, former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav filed his nomination papers from Mainpuri’s Karhal Assembly constituency, his party’s traditional stronghold.
Tweeting about the same, he posted a picture of himself while inside his plush ultra-luxurious Mercedes bus.
“This nomination is a mission because this election of UP will write the history of the next century of the state and the country”, he tweeted in Hindi.
ये ‘नॉमिनेशन’ एक ‘मिशन’ है क्योंकि यूपी का ये चुनाव प्रदेश और देश की अगली सदी का इतिहास लिखेगा!
आइए प्रोग्रेसिव सोच के साथ सकारात्मक राजनीति के इस आंदोलन में हिस्सा लें… नकारात्मक राजनीति को हराएं भी, हटाएं भी!!
जय हिन्द!!! pic.twitter.com/uxJhRQDrWo
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 31, 2022
However, his ultra-luxurious ride rivaling classiest flights stirred a row on Twitter as the netizens did not feel amused by his tweet.
Rather, they questioned the lavish lifestyle of Akhilesh Yadav who claims to be the leader of poor and backward classes and yet lives such an extravagant life.
Critiques questions
BJP spokesperson Dr. Sambit Patra took a sharp barb at Akhilesh Yadav by condemning his VVIP lifestyle in a picturesque language.
“This wealth, this glory, and this VVIP life. Everyone tells how much Saifai socialism has looted Uttar Pradesh”, he said.
ये दौलत, ये शानों-शौकत और ये VVIP जीवन..
सब बताता है उत्तर प्रदेश को कितना लूटा है सैफई समाजवाद ने.. https://t.co/gCc2jrcAqO pic.twitter.com/kxKScNvOX4— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) January 31, 2022
Union Minister of Skill and Electronic Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar also took a scathing dig at Akhilesh and questioned his Socialism.
“An ultra-lux caravan is the appropriate setting for Akhilesh-style socialism”, he wrote on Twitter.
A ultra-lux caravan is the appropriate setting for Akhilesh-style socialism #Samajwadi 😅🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/EVzxprtg1T
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) January 31, 2022
Others also joined this bandwagon in criticizing Akhilesh Yadav in a similar fashion and called out his hypocrisy.
पार्टी के माफिया और कट्टरपंथी नेताओं के कारण
समाजवाद शब्द से लोग डरने लगे है।
यह कैसा समाजवाद??
विरोधी दल के नेता का पूंजीवाद।
समाजवादी कहकर जनता को बेवकूफ क्यों बनाते है यादवजी?
सत्ता से बाहर फिर यह शान-ओ-शौकत।
कोई साधारण कार्यकर्ता भी नजदीक नहीं आ सकता।https://t.co/fcNnbT009l— Ray Jain (@RayJain10) January 31, 2022
One Twitter user wrote that by claiming to remove poverty, the socialist leader became so rich that he continue to live such a luxurious life despite being out of power for several years.
उत्तर प्रदेश के लोगों की ग़रीबी और बेरोज़गारी हटाते हटाते ख़ुद इतना अमीर हो गए की सत्ता से बाहर रहते हुए भी नक़ली समाजवादियों के ये ठाठ हैं…https://t.co/Nq9YmFHYG4
— Dr Jitendra Dubey (@DrJVDubey) January 31, 2022
Another said that it would be more appropriate for this so-called socialist monsieur who campaigns in such a luxury motor bus to contest the elections in the next century.
IH-45 "लक्जरी" मोटर कोच में बैठकर चुनाव प्रचार करने वाले तथाकथित "समाजवादी" महाशय चुनाव भी "अगली सदी" में ही लड़ लीजिएगा… pic.twitter.com/ToW22DulQb
— || PALIWAL ||🌞 (@Dhiraj_Paliwal_) January 31, 2022
समाजवादी सोच एक ड्रामा है , तुम्हारे ठाठ बाट तो सामंतवादी सोच प्रदर्शित कर रहे हैं।
— Abhay Tewari 🇮🇳 (@abhaytewari1964) January 31, 2022
Supporters Response
Some of his supporters, however, came to his defense and pointed out the richness and luxuries of BJP leaders.
एक चाय वाला,
800 करोड़ का जहाज से चलता है,1 करोड़ का शूट पहनता है,
12करोड़ की गाडी से चलता है,
गृह मंत्री का बेटा अयोग्य होते हुए
BCCI का अध्यछ बना घूम रहा है,एक दलित पिछड़े वर्ग के नेता के घर पर सोफा देखकर पेट में जलन उठने लगी,
लाज़मी है,
यही पेट की जलन 10 मार्च को समाप्त— yadav (@brahmma1yadav) January 31, 2022
बेशर्म पात्रा ये क्या है?? pic.twitter.com/Mklw4wm0kK
— Santosh Gupta (@Santosh_Gupta23) January 31, 2022
Is hisab to sirf 7 saal pehle satta mein aayi BJP aaj desh ki sabse Amir party hai ,,or pehli party hai jinka 7 star hotel se bhi achha Karalya hai ..अपने चश्मे का नया फ्रेम न बनवा सकने वाली माँ का चाय वाला गरीब फकीर बेटा ।।कोरोना जैसी महामारी में 8 हजार करोड़ अपने जहाज पे लगाता pic.twitter.com/yhyueyw1XW
— ਅਜਾਦ Azaad शास्त्री ।भारत (@dev90562963) January 31, 2022
दुनिया के सबसे बड़े फ़कीर इन्सान कि ठाट बाट।
अखिलेश आ रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/3MUT7UAV3B
— Haniya Ansari (@N54275656) January 31, 2022
मात्र 800मीटर की दूरी तय करने में ये रहीशी है
8500करोड़ का हवाई जहाज कहा से आया चाय बेचकर,
12करोड़ की मर्सिडीज कार कहा से आया NCC कैडेड में शामिल होकर,
कि ONGC में डायरेक्टरी मिलने पर pic.twitter.com/3rO4diEstz— Sanjiv Kumar Yadav (@SanjivK92318789) February 1, 2022
For the unversed, Akhilesh Yadav identifies himself as the “Socialist” leader of India. These days he often claims to be leading a backward revolution against the Hindu upper-caste-dominated BJP rule in Uttar Pradesh.
However, according to critiques, his ultra-luxurious lifestyle does not seem to tune well with the life of the majority of Dalits and Bahujan-backwards – the electorates he claims to represent but which is living in abject poverty and deprivation.
In such a situation, the act of his critiques pointing out his contradictory claims and lifestyle comes as no surprise.
Recently, the incumbent Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath faced similar criticism when BSP supremo Mayawati criticized him for his palatial bungalow-style monastery in Gorakhpur.
The 2022 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled in seven phases starting from February 10 onwards. Poll results will be out on March 10.
With less than two weeks left for the first phase of UP elections, political parties have intensified and stepped up their poll campaigns in the state.