LUCKNOW, April 17 -- Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who is on a two-day visit to Bhubaneswar, on Thursday expressed hope of setting up a state unit in Odisha and fielding candidates in future assembly elections. The SP chief, accompanied by his wife and party MP Dimple Yadav, visited the Jagannath Temple in Bhubaneswar earlier on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, Akhilesh said, "I am hopeful that the Samajwadi Party will soon be established in Odisha. Our primary focus will be to build the organisation at the district level and launch a membership drive, after which we can look forward to expanding to the assembly constituency level. Thereafter, we can prepare for the state assembly elections as well...