Akhilesh-Rahul were frightened to contest UP polls alone: Smriti

Kanpur: Mocking at the youthful projection of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Union Textiles Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani said neither of the two had the courage to contest UP Assembly elections singlehandedly.

It was desperation on the part of both the leaders and both the parties, namely Samajwadi Party and Congress, to take refuge in each other's company to fight out Bharatiya Janata Party, she said while addressing an election meeting in support of party candidate Satish Mahana in Maharajpur assembly constituency here on Wednesday.

Smriti said it was ironical that the leader like Rahul Gandhi had to ride the 'cycle' to improve his electoral presence in Uttar Pradesh, after he and his party failed miserably in UP. "Mujhko ye vishwas ho gaya hai ki UP ke voter ko ye saath bilkul pasand nahi hai (What I could gather from the public response, the electorate of the state did not like the alliance)," she remarked.

Also Read: UP Polls 2017: Polling ends, about 65% voter turnout recorded in 2nd phase

The people of UP would like to know how much youth gained during the governance of young chief minister, the union minister pointed out. "I have definite information that even youths of the state had to pay bribe for their smallest of the works," she alleged.

The Samajwadi Party has defined Gundaraj in every possible way and it will be telling on them when results of UP Assembly polls are out on March 11, she said, adding, even the ardent followers of SP would admit that law and order had reached at its lowest ebb during Akhilesh Yadav regime in the state.

"I feel saddened at the plight of women in Uttar Pradesh as they fear to venture out alone anywhere in the state," she said while asserting that safety of women will be the top priority of BJP when it comes to power in the state.

Check more pictures of Smriti Irani rally in next slides: