Gunshots fired at Samajwadi Party lawmaker's 'cycle rally' in Uttar Pradesh

Meerut: Members of Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party waved weapons and fired shots in the air during a 'cycle yatra' launched by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday to flag his campaign for the national election, due by May.

Workers at a cycle rally led by Samajwadi MLA Ghulam Mohammad in Meerut on Monday were caught on camera, flaunting arms and firing celebratory gunshots, unchecked.

Mr Mohammad is heard warning his party men about the presence of TV crew, but apparently it was lost on them. The MLA represents the Siwalkhas assembly constituency and is a likely candidate for the party from the Lok Sabha seat of Baghpat.

Mulayam Singh's campaign aims at replicating the success of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's 'bicycle yatra' across the state that voted the Samajwadi Party back to power in the 2012 state election. The cycle is the party's poll symbol.

While launching the cycle yatra in state capital Lucknow, the Samajwadi Party chief had cautioned his workers against acts of hooliganism that could damage the party's image.

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The ruling party has been on the backfoot over allegations of lawlessness and brazen arrogance by its ministers and other leaders since it took power two years ago.