Etah (UP): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today blamed the "indiscriminate" mass transfers of senior officials in the state by the Election Commission for yesterday's sectarian violence in Lucknow and Kanpur.

Addressing a series of election rallies in Mainpuri, Ferozabad and Etah, Yadav said the commission had been transferring senior officials indiscriminately.

"The newly posted officials did not get enough time to get familiar with the areas and could not prevent the violence," he claimed.

Yadav said he had appealled to Muslim leaders to sink their differences and help restore peace in the affected areas.

The BJP, Congress and BSP had "ganged up" against his party in the ensuing assembly elections, the Samajwadi party president alleged.

Listing the achievements of his government, Yadav said steps had been taken for the welfare of every section of the society.

Yadav also referred to his party's election manifesto and said that if voted back, he would provide free power to the farmers for irrigation, free education till post graduation besides several other sops.