LUCKNOW: Much against the perception that the SP list of 23 candidates announced by Samajwadi Party state chief Shivpal Yadav on Saturday would be taken by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and uncle Ram Gopal Yadav with a pinch of salt, Party national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member gave his thumps up calling it a consensus list.
Talking to media persons in Agra on late Sunday evening, Ram Gopal said that the names of candidates declared on Saturday were decided with the consent of all the senior party leaders. Mafia don-turn-politician Atique Ahmad, an accused in a number of murder, kidnapping and extortion cases, also figured on the list of 23 declared on Saturday. Besides, borther of another mafia don-turned-MLA Mukhtar Ansari and Quami Ekta Dal leader Sigbatullha Ansari was also a given party ticket from Mohammadabad constituency in the upcoming state elections.
On the issue of party giving tickets to criminals and musclemen, Ram Gopal cleared the air saying that it was not only party, but public also voted for them and ensured their victory. Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, the SP Rajya Sabha member said everyone was demanding him to come to the house and discuss the issue.
He said PM’s decision to scrap high value currency notes had pushed the economy back by decades.
“People are suffering and Prime Minister is not ready to speak in Parliament,” he said. On the issue of striking alliance with Congress in UP and the role of Congress poll manager Prashant Kishore (PK), Ram Gopal asked whoPK was?