Kannauj: Ahead of Modi’s rally, Akhilesh holds road show

Kannauj, April 26 (IANS) A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public meeting in Kannauj, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav on Friday held an eight-km-long road show in the city.

Dimple Yadav, who is re-contesting from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat, kicked off her road show from the party office here.

Akhilesh Yadav, who earlier in the day addressed two public meetings in Jalaun's Urai, along with Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Ajit Singh, and in Jhansi, later joined his wife's road show in Kannauj.

The SP leader is re-contesting against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Subrat Pathak, whom she had defeated in 2014.

The SP leaders greeted hundreds of workers of the party, who were joined by a large number of RLD and BSP workers, who showered flower petals on them.

Hundreds of motorcycles and cars accompanied their modified bus -- the chariot -- and the SUV. The couple, affectionately called "Bhaiyaji" and "Bhabhiji" in the area, waved to the people.

Apart from slogans in favour of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance, there were also slogans proclaiming that the fate of the state would change as BSP supremo Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav have come together in these elections.

This is the third road show by the SP leaders. Dimple Yadav had conducted a road show soon after filing her nomination papers from Kannauj on April 6, along with her husband and actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan.

She also held a road show on Wednesday in the city.

Modi will hold a public meeting in Kannauj on Saturday morning in support of his party's candidate.

The SP is contesting 37 seats, BSP 38 and Ajit Singh's RLD three. The alliance is not fielding candidates in Amethi and Rae Bareli -- held by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, respectively.