'Our preference is to promote happiness in Uttar Pradesh': Akhilesh Yadav

New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister designate Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday vowed to meet the expectations of his voters by firmly promoting happiness in the state.

"We have won the elections and there's a tradition to meet, so we have met. Our preference will always be given to Uttar Pradesh as people have voted us into power. Therefore, our preference is to promote happiness in Uttar Pradesh," said Akhilesh after meeting the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leaders here.

Meanwhile, CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat after the meeting spoke on the Samajwadi Party's victory in India's fifth largest and most populous state, and added that he has been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

"Akhilesh had come with Mulayam and we congratulated them for their victory in the Uttar Pradesh elections and for becoming the Chief Minister. They have invited me for the swearing-in ceremony and I have accepted the invitation," he said.

Akhilesh was on Saturday named the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh by his party's lawmakers after the Samajwadi Party (SP) routed all its rivals in the recently concluded state assembly elections, clinching 224 of 403 seats in the state assembly.

At 38, he will become the youngest chief minister of Uttar Pradesh after taking oath of office on March 15. (ANI)