CJP's Ashutosh Ranka meets Akhilesh Yadav ahead of UP polls, sparks buzz

LUCKNOW: CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka met Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, according to news agency PTI.Accroding to SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said, Ashutosh Ranka and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav met in the Lucknow on Thursday evening. He said he was not aware of the details of their discussion.The meeting is believed to have touched on issues affecting young people, including unemployment and school education. Yadav has frequently criticised the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over these issues.According to sources, the two held a closed-door meeting for around 90 minutes from about 4pm at the office of the Janeshwar Mishra Trust, located near the SP headquarters.Ranka left the premises after the meeting without speaking to the media. The SP chief Akilesh Yadav also did not issue any statement on the purpose or outcome of the meeting.Sources said the discussion may have included concerns of students, as well as those of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Education-related issues may also have been discussed, although there was no official confirmation of the details.CJP’s student campaignThe meeting comes amid the CJP’s recent activities over student-related issues.Yadav had earlier raised concerns after Ranka was allegedly attacked in Rajasthan last month while taking part in the CJP’s “School Thik Karo” campaign.SP leaders have also shown support for student protests. After police used a lathi charge during the CJP’s agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, party MP Dimple Yadav and Azamgarh MP Dharmendra Yadav visited the protest site and expressed solidarity with the students.Akhilesh Yadav has also spoken in support of the student movement led by the CJP on several occasions.Meeting ahead of UP pollsThe meeting comes at a significant time, with Uttar Pradesh scheduled to hold Assembly elections early next year.The SP has been targeting the BJP-led state government over issues such as unemployment, education and inflation.Yadav, a former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, has repeatedly raised concerns over school closures. He has questioned the Centre over the issue at the national level and criticised the Uttar Pradesh government over the closure of primary schools in the state.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in LucknowStay updated with the latest Lucknow news. Download the TOI App.