Day after winning bypolls in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur and Phulpur, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said the victory would have been tremendous had there been no tampering with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said that people have voted in large numbers and this helped his party win bypolls. Yadav further added that the bypoll win will have political significance.
Yadav congratulated the winning candidates, Nagendra Pratap Singh Patel from Phulpur seat and Pravin Nishad from Gorakhpur seat, and assured that they would voice the grievances of the public in Parliament.
"The Lotus withered in Phulpur. I thank the public of Phulpur; arrogance and such language was used, at least with the public's decision that will change, and the path will improve," Yadav said.
SAMAJWADI PARTY SUPREMO AKHILESH YADAV IS ADDRESSING MEDIA: AS IT HAPPENED
01:09 pm: This victory would have been tremendous had there been no tampering with the EVMs earlier.
01:07 pm: We do not believe in holding meetings as much as we believe in running the 'cycle' for the welfare of the country.
12:58 pm: I would like to send out a message of encouragement for the youth, we have to make this country develop.
12:57 pm: The 'Lotus' could not bloom in Phulpur.
12:56 pm: This victory will be remembered politically, it has helped the youth of the party come forward.
12:53 pm: This win is for the Dalits and for the weaker sections of the society.
12:52 pm: People have voted in large numbers and this helped us win the UP bypolls.
12:50 pm: On Wednesday, the SP chief also thanked BSP supremo Mayawati for extending support to his party candidates in Phulpur and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha bypolls.
12:45 pm: Thanking the people of Phulpur and Gorakhpur for facilitating his party’s victory in these bypolls, Akhilesh Yadav said that the results carried a “message and direction” adding it was a fitting reply to the misgovernance of Bharatiya Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh.
12:40 pm: The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister had extended his gratitude to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati for her support to his candidates.
