Akhilesh Yadav sparks political row with remark on RLD leader

Political tensions have escalated in Uttar Pradesh following a comment by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav. Yadav remarked that his party had ‘turned a chavanni (25-paise coin) into a rupee,’ a statement widely interpreted as a jab at Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president and Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary regarding past political alliances.

Jayant Chaudhary criticized the remark, stating that targeting the Jat community is inappropriate and labeling the behavior as arrogant. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati also joined the criticism, calling the comment ‘indecent’ and ‘shameful.’ She demanded that Yadav apologize to Chaudhary, the family of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, and the entire Jat community.

Mayawati further linked the incident to historical friction, citing the 1995 Lucknow State Guest House incident as evidence of the SP’s unreliable alliance patterns. In response, Akhilesh Yadav defended his party, asserting that the SP never breaks alliances and redirected criticism toward the BJP government regarding economic issues such as inflation and poverty.

Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Minister O. P. Rajbhar warned that Yadav would face political consequences for insulting the Jat community, noting the historical role the community played in the political rise of Mulayam Singh Yadav.