Lucknow, May 6: In what may draw Election Commission's ire, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday made another controversial remark while campaigning for his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. Accusing previous governments of being communally biased, Yogi Adityanath said earlier people would get electricity on Muharram and Eid, but not on Holi and Diwali.

Addressing a public meeting in Domariaganj Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath said: "Earlier, power connections were given on caste lines and people didn’t get electricity on Holi and Diwali, but on Muharram and Eid." "Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas (support for all, development for all)," the chief minister added. He also mocked at the SP-BSP-RLD alliance.

"Shivpal Yadav (Akhilesh’s uncle) says that he has no sister. So, where did the bua (aunt) came from?” Adityanath asked, in an apparent referring to Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati. Adityanath’s remarks are reminiscent of PM Modi’s comments at a rally before the 2017 assembly election in the state. The prime minister had said if people get electricity on Ramzan, they should also get electricity during Diwali.

On May 2, the Election Commission issued a show-cause notice to Adityanath for violating the model code of conduct by making communal remarks against Muslims. The poll panel cited his April 19 speech in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal where he spoke against Muslims while addressing voters, saying: "Do you want to keep the nations in hands of anti-nationals, sons of Babur...? Do you want to give the reigns in the hands of opponents of Bajarangbali?"

Last month, the EC had taken action against Adityanath for making communal remarks in Meerut and barred him from campaigning for 72 hours.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 06, 2019 09:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).