# Uttar Pradesh political tensions and party disputes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uttar-pradesh-political-tensions-and-party-disputes
> Updated: 2026-09-20T09:20:13.000Z. Sources: 22. Developments: 2.

Political tensions in Uttar Pradesh have intensified as the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) engage in disputes over identity politics and governance ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. BSP leader Mayawati has criticized SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for using the color blue—a symbol of Dalit interests—to court voters, asserting that such gestures do not make one an “Ambedkarite.” More recently, Mayawati questioned the color scheme of the SP’s ‘PDA Chariot’ campaign, suggesting a shift from traditional red to colors resembling the BJP’s saffron indicates political opportunism or a loss of confidence among Muslim voters. She further claimed that Muslim voters are shifting toward the BSP, mirroring trends observed among Brahmin voters.

Internal friction within the SP led Yadav to dissolve party units and frontal organizations in the Etah and Kasganj districts following a heated verbal altercation between senior leaders Manjeet Yadav and Jogendra Singh Yadav. Yadav attributed the dispute to “the arrogance that comes with money.”

As the SP outlines strategies to increase its vote share by targeting unemployment and paper leaks, political rivals have intensified their rhetoric. Akhilesh Yadav has accused the ruling BJP of misusing generative AI and deepfakes for political mudslinging. Conversely, the BJP has accused the SP of being associated with criminal elements, supported by a ‘One District, One Mafia’ poster campaign linking Yadav to former leaders such as Atiq Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari, and Azam Khan. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar dismissed the SP’s political formula as a “sham,” alleging the party has historically undermined Dalit interests.

## Claims

- Mayawati claimed the Samajwadi Party's PDA Chariot uses more saffron than the party's traditional red. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Mayawati claimed Muslim voters are shifting toward the BSP, similar to the trend among Brahmins. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Akhilesh Yadav attributed the internal party conflict to the arrogance associated with wealth. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Samajwadi Party dissolved the district executive committees and frontal organizations in Etah and Kasganj. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of misusing generative AI for political mudslinging. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Samajwadi Party aims to increase its vote share by 27,000 in every assembly constituency. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Samajwadi Party claims that over 20 competitive examinations in Uttar Pradesh have suffered paper leaks. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya accused the Samajwadi Party of having a history of criminal and mafia links. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-20: Uttar Pradesh politics intensifies ahead of 2027 elections

Ahead of the 2027 UP elections, the Samajwadi Party faces internal discipline issues and a poster war, while Mayawati's BSP criticizes SP's strategy and claims shifting voter support.

21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/samajwadi-party-dissolves-district-units-after-leadership-spat

### 2026-09-10: Uttar Pradesh politics: Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav clash

Political friction grows in Uttar Pradesh as Mayawati criticizes Akhilesh Yadav’s use of the color blue to court Dalit voters, while Yadav accuses the state government of restricting SP events.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uttar-pradesh-politics-mayawati-and-akhilesh-yadav-clash

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Cite as: Uttar Pradesh political tensions and party disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uttar-pradesh-political-tensions-and-party-disputes