SP-BSP-RLD to sweep first phase of polls: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav asserted on Monday that the SP-BSP-RLD alliance will sweep the first phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh on April 11 and rout the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Talking to reporters, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said: "Reports from the ground are encouraging and the empty seats in BJP rallies is a sign of their dipping fortunes.

"We will win all the eight seats in the first round," he said, adding that the alliance would do exceedingly well in the Lok Sabha polls and finally unseat the BJP.

He slammed the Yogi Adityanath government in the state and the Modi-led NDA government at the Centre and blamed them for farmers' distress.

"They have done nothing but given false dreams to people," the 45-year-old said.