Ahead of the crucial 2022 UP assembly election, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav promised freebies like free medical treatment to the people tripling of the old age pension.

Akhilesh Yadav and his ally Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar addressed a joint rally at Atraulia in Hardoi district on Saturday.

Addressing the rally, Akhilesh however said, “I will not reveal the details of the schemes for people’s welfare as the Bharatiya Janata Party is a master copycat and they will announce similar schemes to influence the voters.”

With the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections inching loser, all political parties are constantly trying to woo voters in their own way. In this regard, the SP is not only communicating with the people to fight the political battle of UP but is trying all possible tricks to win the election.

“The electorate have decided to dislodge the BJP from power in coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh The SP, after forming the government, will ensure the rights of the poor, Dalits and backward classes in power structure,” Akhilesh said.

Referring to his party’s coalition with several castes-based small political parties, the SP chief said, “Samajwadi Party is trying to create a rainbow coalition of different social groups which has unnerved the BJP which prefers only one colour.”

Seeking to polarise the people on caste lines, Akhilesh said that Ambedkarites and samajwadis would defeat the BJP in the 2022 assembly polls, fulfilling socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia's wish of working together with followers of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar.

“Dr Ram Manohar Lohia wanted to work together with Baba Saheb, a wish which remained unfulfilled. The SP tried but that dream was not fulfilled. But we have not given up hope and in 2022, this dream will definitely come true," he said.

The SP had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party but the coalition could bag only 15 of the 80 parliamentary seats. While the BSP won 10 seats, the SP tally was restricted to a meager five. This time, the BSP has decided to go it alone while the SP has gone for alliance with smaller parties.