Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party during a public meeting in Kasganj on Friday, accusing the ruling party of attempting to manipulate the electoral process and undermine democratic institutions. Speaking at an event held after inaugurating Urmila Garden at Soron Gate, Yadav alleged that the BJP was engaging in practices that could threaten the integrity of future elections if left unchecked.
Addressing party workers and supporters, Yadav claimed that instances of alleged electoral irregularities and misconduct witnessed in Bihar and West Bengal could have serious consequences if similar practices were repeated in Uttar Pradesh. He argued that if what he described as "dishonesty" and "electoral loot" were allowed to continue, the democratic process itself could come under threat in the future.
The Samajwadi Party chief alleged that the BJP was attempting to reshape the political system and electoral framework in a manner that would favour its own interests. According to him, the ruling party was working toward creating a political environment where opposition leaders would find it increasingly difficult to win elections and effectively challenge the government.
Yadav also criticised the BJP's handling of women's reservation, alleging that the party had manipulated the issue for political advantage. He argued that the ruling party was seeking to create a Parliament structured according to its own political preferences rather than ensuring genuinely representative democratic institutions. According to him, such efforts were aimed at consolidating power rather than strengthening democracy.
A significant portion of his speech focused on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Yadav alleged that the BJP had been preparing to influence voter lists in a manner that could affect election outcomes. He claimed that the Samajwadi Party had recognised these efforts and was now fully prepared to counter them through extensive grassroots mobilisation.
Calling upon party workers to remain vigilant, Yadav urged them to monitor voter lists closely across villages and local communities. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that no eligible voter's name was removed from electoral rolls and encouraged workers to verify voter records door-to-door and village-by-village.
According to Yadav, scrutiny of voter lists in future panchayat and assembly elections would reveal the extent of the alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process. He further claimed that efforts to alter voter rolls had not only affected opposition supporters but had also impacted individuals who traditionally supported the BJP.
The former chief minister also raised the issue of social justice and reservation policies. Referring to the PDA coalition of backward classes, Dalits, and minorities, he alleged that the BJP had deprived these communities of their rights and denied them the full benefits of reservation policies. He argued that these communities had become increasingly aware of the situation and would respond politically in the coming elections.
Expressing confidence about his party's prospects, Yadav stated that people across Uttar Pradesh had made up their minds to challenge the BJP politically. He claimed that public dissatisfaction with the ruling party was growing and predicted that the Samajwadi Party would return to power in the 2027 Assembly elections.
The SP leader also addressed the controversial issue of alleged fake encounters in Uttar Pradesh. He warned that if the Samajwadi Party returned to office, cases involving alleged fake encounters would be reviewed and those found responsible would face legal consequences. According to Yadav, any action taken would be based on the principles of justice and the rule of law.
In remarks quoted by a statement issued from the Samajwadi Party headquarters, Yadav further alleged that electoral malpractice had occurred openly in West Bengal. He accused the BJP of failing to uphold the principles of the Constitution framed by B. R. Ambedkar and claimed that the party's approach posed a threat to democratic processes across the country.
Turning his attention to governance issues in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav accused the BJP government of presiding over rising inflation and increasing corruption. He argued that ordinary citizens were facing economic difficulties while the government had failed to address key concerns affecting farmers, workers, and small businesses.
The former chief minister also criticised the state's handling of agricultural issues. He alleged that farmers had not received the support they had been promised and claimed that commitments related to agricultural reforms and income enhancement had not been fulfilled. According to him, farmers were still waiting for meaningful measures that could improve their economic conditions.
Yadav specifically referred to the long-standing demand for a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce. He argued that despite repeated assurances, farmers had not received the protections they sought and continued to face uncertainty regarding crop prices and agricultural income.
In a pointed attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Yadav disputed claims regarding the state's development trajectory. Referring to statements suggesting that certain regions lacked identity before 2017, he argued that the chief minister himself had not held significant political prominence before that period. He maintained that socialist governments had historically contributed substantially to the development of the state.
The Samajwadi Party leader also criticised the condition of public services under the current administration. He alleged that ambulance services introduced during the Samajwadi Party government had deteriorated and claimed that healthcare facilities across the state were facing shortages of doctors, medicines, and essential medical resources.
Healthcare and education featured prominently in his criticism of the government. Yadav argued that deficiencies in public health infrastructure were affecting ordinary citizens and reducing access to quality medical care. He claimed that these shortcomings reflected broader governance failures that needed urgent attention.
He further accused the BJP government of failing young people and students. Highlighting repeated allegations of examination paper leaks, Yadav argued that such incidents had damaged the future prospects of thousands of aspiring candidates. He claimed that recurring leaks had undermined confidence in recruitment examinations and competitive entrance tests.
Referring specifically to students preparing for medical entrance examinations such as NEET, Yadav alleged that examination irregularities had created uncertainty and frustration among young people seeking educational and employment opportunities. According to him, the government had failed to protect the integrity of the examination system.
Throughout his speech, Yadav sought to connect issues such as voter roll verification, reservation policies, farmer welfare, inflation, healthcare, education, and democratic institutions into a broader critique of the BJP government. He argued that these issues reflected a pattern of governance that, in his view, was harming both democratic processes and public welfare.
The remarks come as political activity in Uttar Pradesh begins to intensify ahead of future electoral contests, with opposition parties increasingly focusing on issues related to voter registration, social justice, governance, and economic challenges. Yadav's speech in Kasganj reflects the Samajwadi Party's efforts to position itself as a principal challenger to the BJP while mobilising support among farmers, youth, backward classes, Dalits, minorities, and other voter groups across the state.
