Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav  held the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government responsible for compelling the people of Uttar Pradesh to buy the costliest electricity in the country.

He further said that had the BJP government worked on the power plants in Etah and other districts proposed during the SP regime, the scenario would have been different.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister then promised to ensure a cheaper and regular power supply for all sectors if his party is elected to power following the 2022 Assembly elections in the state.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Akhilesh Yadav said, “Had the proposed power plants in Etah and other districts been built, the people of Uttar Pradesh would not have been compelled to buy electricity at the highest rate in the country.”

“When the SP government takes over, we reiterate our resolve to provide more relief than anticipated and regular cheap electricity to agriculture, households, industries and businesses,” he said.

Refuting the allegations of selling expensive electricity, UP Energy Minister Shrikant Sharma in a tweet alleged that the previous Samajwadi Party government increased electricity rates by over 60 per cent.

There has been “no increase” in electricity rates in the Yogi Adityanath government, he claimed.

“Electricity is being provided without any discrimination. Villages are getting more than 54 per cent electricity,” the minister said.