PRAYAGRAJ, April 5 -- Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, stating development had come to a halt during his tenure-a failure that led to the party's defeat in the 2017 Assembly elections.

He added that since then, Akhilesh has repeatedly tried to return to power, but the people of Uttar Pradesh are well aware of the party's true character.

Addressing the media at the Circuit House in Prayagraj after concluding his two-day visit and before departing for Lucknow, Maurya responded to Akhilesh Yadav's remarks questioning the government's "Green Corridor" initiative.

Maurya said the public still remembers the SP government, alleging that during its ...