Announcing the revocation of suspension of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav from the party, Uttar Pradesh state chief Shivpal Singh Yadav on Saturday said the Samajwadi Party has always worked towards the development of Uttar Pradesh and it is this faith that will lead them to victory in the upcoming elections.

"The Samajwadi government has worked for the development of Uttar Pradesh and for all classes. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) and the Congress also ruled this state but they did not work, only made promises. We have always fulfilled our promises. The people of Uttar Pradesh are with us," he added.

Shivpal further stated that with discipline and unity the party will form the government with majority in the politically crucial state.

While expressing happiness over the cancellation of suspension, Shivpal taunted the BJP saying the saffron party would be swept off in the upcoming state elections in a similar way as it suffered after the Babri Masjid demolition incident.

"After Babri masjid, BJP was swept off in the elections. Similarly, after demonetisation, BJP will see the same fate," he added.

Targeting the Congress, Shivpal assured the thumping foot which their party enjoys in the state.

"The Congress ruled the entire nation for years. Nobody imagined that after emergency all the 50 seats will be lost by the Congress and won by Samajwadi Party," he said.

Photograph: Sandeep Pal