A change of government in a state usually means new policies. In Uttar Pradesh, it also means a new set of holidays. But given the new holidays the four-year-old Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government has declared, a back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that government employees now need to work only for six months a year.
With assembly elections due next year, the government has declared three more holidays.
The new holidays are dedicated to political leaders - the government has not been choosey about their party affiliation. The list includes birth anniversaries of former Prime Ministers Charan Singh and Chandrashekhar and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur.
The holiday tally of Uttar Pradesh is 38, in comparison to other big states like Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which have 25 public holidays.
Coupled with a five-day week for Vidhan Sabha staff and departmental head offices, three holidays for district-level employees and two optional holidays, most government employees can be off six months a year.
Not everyone is celebrating though.
A petition has been filed in the Lucknow High Court against "holiday politics". The petitioner, Amitabh Thakur, said, "I have asked the court to restrict the holidays to a minimum and not allow holidays in the names of every political leader. Only a few should be allowed".
An Alert From Meta AI Helps Cops Stop Lucknow Woman From Dying By Suicide Theft At House Of BJP Ally In Lucknow, Bathroom Fittings Missing India's 156.7 Kmph Pace Sensation Mayank Yadav Receives Massive 'Rolls Royce' Praise Sultan Of Brunei, Who Owns 7,000 Cars, Welcomes PM Modi On 1st-Ever Visit Man Cites "Live-In Relationship Agreement" To Get Bail In Rape Case Kamala Harris Veep Pick Tim Walz Involved In Highway Crash, JD Vance Reacts Centre Okays Acquisitions Worth 1.45 Lakhs Crore Including Futuristic Tanks Israeli Minister Plans Spending Cuts In 2025 Budget To Fund Gaza War Wearing Garland Of "Ignored" Complaints, Man Rolls Into Collector's Office Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.