Akhilesh Yadav faces political criticism in Uttar Pradesh

Political tensions are escalating in Uttar Pradesh ahead of upcoming Rajya Sabha and assembly elections. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has accused the BJP government of attempting to divide society and neglecting the education system. In response to his electoral promises, Yadav pledged to implement the Old Pension Scheme and improve the status of Shikshamitras and Madrasa teachers if his party takes power in 2027.

Opposition leaders and BJP figures have launched various critiques of Yadav’s ‘PDA’ (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) political formula. Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar mocked the acronym, suggesting it stands for ‘family, wealthy, and criminals’ rather than its intended social groups. Meanwhile, BJP Minister Dayashankar Singh dismissed PDA as a mere ‘gimmick’ and criticized the party’s leadership structure as being centered around a single family.

In a notable exchange, former MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh remarked that ‘everything is empty without Akhilesh,’ a comment that sparked significant political speculation. Yadav responded by emphasizing the unity of the INDIA bloc, stating, ‘It is the BJP’s greatest sorrow that the INDIA bloc is girding its loins.’