Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and the process of converting baseless issues into controversies has already begun. While Uttar Pradesh has always been the centre point of politics, these days it has become the centre of allegations and counter allegations. Recently, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had cried crocodile tears over what Yogi Adityanath said on Republic Day.

Addressing a public gathering on 26th January, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that the court should give the Ram Mandir verdict sooner than later. Yogi Adityanath had said that if the court could not do so, he should be allowed to handle the matter and Yogi Sarkar would bring a solution to it within 24 hours.

Reacting to it, Akhilesh Yadav said, “Our country is celebrating the 70th Republic Day. If a chief minister is saying such a thing, then just think what kind of chief minister he must be.” He further told the CM that the people have given him 90 days to bring a solution to save the crops from bulls. He said that saving the farmers should be a priority.

A chief minister replying to questions on the promises he made may be wrong in the eyes of the former chief minister as his own experience has been different in the same. Akhilesh Yadav seems to have forgotten that there is still time left for Yogi Adityanath’s tenure as chief minister to come to an end. And if Akhilesh were to be questioned, he has no idea about the questions that could be asked to him.

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If you remember back in 2013, Akhilesh was more keen to talk to Katrina Kaif instead of talking to the people who elected him. During his tenure as the chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav rubbed shoulders with a lot of Bollywood celebs. In 2013 during the inauguration of Hockey India League, Yadav was busy listening to what Katrina Kaif had to say and was politely seen nodding to a lot of political questions Katrina had for him. Perhaps even back then, he was busy thinking about the farmers and the problems faced by them. Or Akhilesh Yadav found answers to the farmers’ problems in the precious moments spent with Katrina Kaif.

Actually, Akhilesh Yadav may be right. The work he had done for the public as chief minister was completely different than the work being done by Yogi Adityanath. While Yogi Adityanath seems to be working for the people, back in 2016, when Akhilesh was the chief minister, thousands of litres of water was used to create a helipad for him as the state faced a drought-like situation.

Akhilesh Yadav was so concerned about the drought and the plight of people that he was oblivious to the water wasted on creating the helipad. When the same Akhilesh gives lessons to Yogi Adityanath on how to tackle the problems faced by farmers, it is a little amusing, to say the least.

Akhilesh was so busy during his tenure as the chief minister that he did not think twice before trashing the official government accommodation before vacating it. It is a different matter that the man who didn’t think twice before ruining the government accommodation has spent crores on construction and decoration of his own new home.

Akhilesh Yadav, who targets the BJP by firing the gun at them from the shoulders of the farmers, conveniently forgets his own time as chief minister of the state. If only he had followed the advice he is giving to Yogi Adityanath, he would not have had to face such an embarrassing defeat in 2017. As compared to other states, Uttar Pradesh farmers ranked way high in suicides committed. This not only raises questions on his manner of working but also makes one wonder about his intentions, considering the Lok Sabha elections are approaching.

If Akhilesh boasts of not getting into coalition in 2016 could not stop himself from getting close up and personal with Congress in 2017. And somehow, the same Akhilesh has forgotten decades-old enmity and joined hands with Bahujan Samaj Party, putting up the aunt-nephew drama.

Akhilesh Yadav, before you question others, why do you forget your own time as the chief minister?

The article was first written by Jayanti Mishra in on OpIndia Hindi website. It could be read here.