"They wanted to make this a political Kumbh": SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav lashes out at CM Yogi

Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 20 (ANI): Samajwadi Party Chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accusing him of turning the Mahakumbh Mela into a political event instead of a religious one.
Speaking to the media, Yadav said, "They wanted to make this a political Kumbh. This was not a religious Kumbh..."
He also claimed that the Chief Minister planned to use the event to project himself as the next Prime Ministerial face.
"It is being heard that during the Maha Kumbh, it was their plan to announce his (CM Yogi Adityanath) name as the Prime Minister's face," he further said.

The Mahakumbh 2025 concluded on Maha Shivratri, February 26, with over 66 crore 21 lakh devotees taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam.
Earlier in the day, Yadav also launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of ignoring real issues faced by the public.
"This government has two achievements, pakora and bhagoda (fugitive). Anyone who wants employment, they ask them to make pakora, and you know about the fugitive who ran away with the country's money," Yadav said.
He also criticised the recently passed Waqf Act, questioning its relevance to the problems faced by farmers.
"Will the income of farmers be doubled after the Waqf Bill is passed? These people want to create trouble. If you see a riot anywhere, the Bharatiya Janata Party is behind it...This army is Yogi Army, Yogi Ji is hell-bent on destroying Uttar Pradesh," he added.(ANI)