Mayawati’s memorials not to be razed, assures Akhilesh Yadav

The Samajwadi Party’s heir apparent Akhilesh Yadav has said the new government in UP would not act with revenge against its arch political rival, the BSP. “There will be no vengeful action,” Akhilesh told reporters, who asked him if the new SP regime had plans to raze outgoing CM Mayawati’s statues or memorials.

“Thousands of crores have been spent on parks and memorials. But the memorials, statues and elephants will remain as they are,” he said. However, he went on to add: “Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) has suggested that the vacant spaces available in the memorials and parks could be used for some public purpose like schools or hospitals. But no decision has been taken yet.”

The UP SP chief, who is likely to play a crucial role in the new government, clarified for the umpteenth time that Mulayam, and not he, would be the CM. “All the party workers and leaders are unanimous on this count. I am not in the race for chief ministership,” he asserted. Thanking the people of UP for giving the SP a majority government, he said: “The people have risen above caste and community lines to vote for us.”

Asked about how the SP’s relations with the Congress Party would be after the UP poll verdict, he said: “We have had good relations with the Congress. They will remain that way.”