Akhilesh as leader of Opposition in Assembly; not an easy run for BJP this time

The BJP in Uttar Pradesh will have to brace themselves to face the Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, as the leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, which is not expected to be an “easy run” for them.

On Saturday (March 26), Akhilesh Yadav was elected as the leader of the SP legislative party at a meeting of newly-elected party MLAs in Lucknow. At that meeting, it was also decided that Akhilesh would become the leader of the Opposition in the UP Assembly.

According to reports, the BJP is not expected to have an ‘easy run’ in the Assembly with Akhilesh as the Opposition leader. Unlike the last term, when the SP had just 47 MLAs, this time, the Akhilesh-led party has 125 members in the 403-member House, including six MLAs of ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and eight of the Rashtriya Lok Dal.

The Congress has just two seats, and the BSP has one, making the SP the most significant Opposition party in the state.

Earlier in the week, Akhilesh decided to keep his Karhal Assembly seat, which he had won  by 60,000-odd votes beating BJP MP SP Singh Baghel. It was the first-ever state assembly election he had fought. He has however given up his Lok Sabha membership from the Azamgarh constituency instead.

Also read: For Akhilesh Yadav and SP, more political challenges have just begun

Talking to the media after the meeting of SP MLAs on Saturday, state party president Naresh Uttam Patel said, “Akhilesh Yadav has been elected as the SP Legislative Party leader. The proposal to elect him was floated by senior SP MLA Awadhesh Prasad and it was supported by all elected MLAs.”

Further, he said that the MLAs have given their blessings for Akhilesh to raise issues and challenges faced by the people. He will fight against the wrong policies of the government, said Naresh Patel, adding that since the BJP cheated the people of the state, they gave him fewer seats as compared to the last time.

People have shown confidence in Akhilesh Yadavji and even voted to make him the chief minister but the BJP misused their power and many voters were left out. “Names of SP supporters were removed from the voters list in all Vidhan Sabha constituencies,” alleged Patel.