VARANASI, Sept. 1 -- Samajwadi Party (SP) MLC and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, Lal Bihari Yadav, sparked a political controversy after urging party workers to vote for any candidate chosen by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying, "Even if he (SP chief Akhilesh Yadav) fields a dog with a bell tied around its neck, you have to vote for it."

Yadav made the remarks at a Sunday meeting at Nehru Hall in Azamgarh while supporting SP candidate Kamlesh Yadav for the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers' Legislative Constituency. Party leaders and workers attended the meeting, which was aimed at building support for the SP candidate among teacher voters. The polls are likely to be held in November.

Reiterating his point,...