LUCKNOW, May 25 -- Turning a social media jibe into a political show of strength, panchayati raj minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Sunday drove an auto-rickshaw through Lucknow streets to counter alleged remarks by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his supporters targeting his humble background, triggering a fresh political clash ahead of the 2027 assembly polls. Upset over a social media post by the SP chief mentioning "run the government while driving an auto-rickshaw" and comments made by SP supporters after Rajbhar's photo driving an auto surfaced online, the SBSP leader drove an auto-rickshaw near his official residence in Gautampalli and later near his office on Park Road. Rajbhar said PM Narendra Modi earned recognition as a "chai wala" after opposition leaders targeted his background, and now he too should be called an "auto wala" as SP leaders allegedly mocked him for belonging to a poor family. He said that before entering politics, he used to drive an auto-rickshaw in Varanasi to earn a livelihood. Later, in a post on X, Rajbhar said he wanted to tell Akhilesh Yadav and his "trolls" that he comes from a hardworking and struggling society. "Driving an auto is not a matter of shame for us, but a matter of pride. We are among those who have struggled on the ground, worked hard and felt people's pain," he said. "The troubles of the poor, labourers, backward classes and the working society can only be understood by someone who has seen struggle themselves," he added. Targeting the SP leadership, Rajbhar said those who engage in "AC and PC politics" probably do not understand the value of sweat, but people know that a true leader emerges from among the masses, not from luxurious rooms....