A day before the third meeting of the opposition INDIA alliance in Mumbai, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the people of the country were yearning for a change and the opposition alliance would defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Akhilesh Yadav was in Sitapur on Wednesday to express condolences on the death of former SP MLA Rampal Yadav.

“The BJP has betrayed the mandate given by the people and they have no answer to the galloping inflation, unemployment and corruption. For 10 years the LPG cylinder was sold to the people for over Rs 1,000 and ahead of the election the price has been slashed by Rs 200,” he said.

The SP chief further said, “The bypoll to Ghosi assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh’s Mau district is not just a bypoll. It will send a message for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.”

He also thanked the parties which have extended support to his party’s candidate in the Ghosi assembly bypoll.

“This decision of all parties will bring a big change in the politics of the country. This election will create history and the message will go to the entire country,” the SP chief said.

“I want to tell the youth to support the Samajwadi Party and we will restore the permanent job system as it was earlier in the Army,” he added.

He alleged that the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh had done nothing for the welfare of the poor and the deprived sections.

“Beware of the BJP. It gives the false slogan of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. Unless caste census is done, there cannot be development of all and inequality will not end,” Akhilesh said.

He claimed that the voters of Ghosi assembly constituency had made up their minds to vote for SP candidate Sudhakar Singh. He termed the BJP candidate an “escapist who had betrayed the voters of Ghosi”.