Lucknow, May 4 -- Uttar Pradesh minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar has accused Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav of engaging in caste-based favouritism during his tenure as chief minister and neglecting Dalits and minorities.

Responding to Yadav's recent remarks during a press conference, during which he reiterated his party's commitment to conducting a caste census if voted to power, Rajbhar expressed surprise at what he called the opposition leader's hypocrisy.

"It is surprising if people who usurp rights say such things. He (Akhilesh Yadav) recruited people in services like police, village servant, lekhpal based on caste during his five-year tenure as chief minister...He made 56 SDMs ou...