Arrogance is a bigger thing for Cong than coalition: Akhilesh

Upping the ante ahead of polls in the region, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said for Congress, arrogance is a bigger thing than the coalition. "If there is anyone who has deceived SP, it is the Congress party. It is true that we were in alliance. But we did not know that Congress is arrogant. The coalition is nothing for them and their arrogance is a bigger thing," Yadav said while addressing an election rally in Kanpur.

"BJP is Congress and Congress is BJP. There is no difference," he added. Yadav also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying borders have become more insecure than ever.

"BJP says the border is safe because there is a strong Prime Minister. We want to say that under their regime, the border has become insecure and jawans were also martyred more than ever. Remember, they can do anything for the chair (Prime Minister's chair)," he said. "Where did his (Modi's) 56-inch chest go when young persons were martyred every day? The Prime Minister must tell the public what kind of kheer he ate in Pakistan (during his state visit)," the SP leader asked during another rally at Hardoi.

Congress had fought the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017 with the SP. However, in the ongoing polls, SP has allied with Mayawati's BSP as well as the RLD. SP-BSP is contesting on 37 and 38 Lok Sabha seats, respectively, while three seats have been allocated to RLD as part of the seat sharing arrangement.