Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused BJP on Friday of political vendetta ahead of the UP assembly elections, saying his party’s functionaries were targeted with tax raids because Samajwadi Vijay Yatra rallies were drawing huge crowds, while BJP’s Rath Yatra has fewer people than “a roadside stall selling chowmein”.

“Look at the crowds that are coming for their rath yatra. One can see more people standing around a roadside stall selling chowmein,” he said. “This has rattled BJP.” Calling the income tax department and enforcement directorate coalition partners of BJP, he said searches like the one at the residence of SP MLC and perfume trader Pushparaj Jain, who launched the Samajwadi Perfume, will increase as the elections draw nearer.

“I will urge the Election Commission that if it comes within the purview of the model code of conduct, then these raids should be deferred till elections are over,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)