Hardoi (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 16 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said despite being born in Gujarat he had chosen Uttar Pradesh as his land of vocation, drawing a parallel with Lord Krishna who was born in Uttar Pradesh but made Gujarat his "karma bhoomi".

The Prime Minister said he was an adopted son of Uttar Pradesh and vowed not to ditch the people of the state. He also took a dig at Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over his rift with father Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Krishna was born in Uttar Pradesh but made Gujarat his karma bhoomi. I was born in Gujarat but Uttar Pradesh has adopted me. It is a privilege for me. Uttar Pradesh is like 'mai-baap'. I am not a son who would ditch his mai-baap. I will always care about Uttar Pradesh.

"Despite being an adopted son, it is my duty to develop Uttar Pradesh," Modi told an election rally here in Uttar Pradesh.

Hardoi votes on Sunday in the third phase of the staggered elections to chose a new government in the country's most populous state.