Jaipur, April 10 Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said that when the BJP starts to lose on real issues, it hides behind institutions to carry out its attacks.
During his visit here, Yadav alleged that the Election Commission was working "at the behest of the BJP," particularly during by-elections in Uttar Pradesh.
"The Election Commission is working at the behest of the BJP. Of all the by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission has worked on the directions of the BJP," Yadav added.
"When the BJP starts to lose on real issues, it hides behind institutions to carry out its attacks," he said.
He also accused the BJP of failing to ensure the dignity and security of religious leaders, alleging that "Shankaracharyas are being insulted", and said that governments run by the BJP must take responsibility for their protection.
He also invoked the Samajwadi Party's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) plank, asserting that the alliance represents those facing hardship. "Where there is pain, there is PDA; where there is BJP, there is pain," he said, adding that he had come to Rajasthan to strengthen the party's social coalition.
PDA, an acronym coined by the SP, stands for Pichhda (backward classes), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (minorities).
The SP chief also took a swipe at former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, saying leaders within the INDIA bloc had once hoped he would retire after becoming prime minister, but now it appeared he might instead retire as a Rajya Sabha member.
In a remark on Rajasthan politics, Yadav said the state would have seen more development had former chief minister Vasundhara Raje been in power, adding that "a 'parchi' (slip)-appointed chief minister cannot deliver progress."