Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today apparently defended Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra by accusing the BJP of blowing the issue of land deals out of proportion. Without naming anyone, the Chief Minister said the issue was being raised by the BJP as an attempt to distract the attention of people from other things.

Addressing an election rally at Jaidpur in Barabanki he attacked Narendra Modi and said his name meant “Model of Dividing India” as he wants to divide the country on the caste and religious lines. He claimed Modi was made the Prime Ministerial candidate due to pressures from VHP and RSS, but his intention would never be fulfilled.