Not only have the elephants in Lucknow’s Ambedkar Memorial Park found competition in the donkeys (wild asses, actually) of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh’s state animal, the barasingha, is also worried about losing its title. Ironically, it is their own CM who has triggered a reordering of the animal kingdom pecking order. Addressing an election rally in Rae Bareli on 20 February, Akhilesh Yadav, said: “There’s an ad on TV which shows donkeys. I appeal to the century’s biggest star to stop endorsing the donkeys of Gujarat. I take inspiration from donkeys and I do so with full pride,” Modi said while addressing an election rally in Bahraich on Thursday.

Source: Mint February 27, 2017 19:18 UTC