Just a few hundred metres into his ‘Vikas Yatra’, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s stylish red Mercedes bus dubbed as the hi-tech ‘rath’ broke down on Lucknow’s Lohia Path causing a traffic jam.
After the embarrassment, Akhilesh then had to ditch his much-talked about chariot, left with no option but to continue his yatra in his car. Meanwhile efforts are on to repair the Mercedes ‘rath’.
The UP CM is scheduled to travel 100 km in Lucknow and neighbouring Unnao on the first day of his tour on his Mercedes ‘rath’. There are also plans for him to stop every 2 kilometres to interact with people – on a hydraulic lift atop his vehicle.
Earlier on Thursday morning, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav flagged off his ‘Vikas Rath Yatra’. He was flanked by Shivpal on one side and Akhilesh on the other in order to send a message that the party was united ahead of the upcoming UP Assembly elections barely a few months away.
Before starting on the journey, Akhilesh thanked Mulayam and said that time has come for the party to return to power. “I want to thank Mulayam Singh Yadav ji for flagging off the event,” the chief minister said, adding, “This UP election will change national politics.”
(With PTI inputs)