Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) sought to expand his party’s ‘PDA’ constituency and include Pandits or Brahmins in its Pichhda-Dalit-Alpsankhyak (Backwards, Dalits and minorities) matrix ahead of the State Assembly poll due early next year. The SP has used the PDA plank as a call for broader unity of forces of social justice since the 2022 Assembly election.

“People keep talking about PDA and inventing new meanings about it. Ever since they (BJP) lost to PDA, they have been trying to redefine it. But they have forgotten that the ‘PD’ in PDA also stands for Pandit. The more they inflict peeda (pain), the stronger PDA will become,” said the SP chief while addressing a ‘Brahmin/Prabuddh varg Sammelan’ at the party headquarters in Lucknow on the birth anniversary of late Socialist leader and MP Janeshwar Mishra.

Mr. Yadav hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for “neglecting” Brahmins, other marginalised communities and religious leaders, and accused it of targeting Opposition workers and leaders. “They were already targeting our workers and us. Now they have also started targeting the Brahmin community. They are after the ‘P’ of PDA as well,” he alleged.

The SP chief referred to Swami Avimukteshwaranand being prevented from taking a holy dip during the Kumbh congregation earlier this year. “If there is any example in history where a government stopped a Shankaracharya from taking a holy dip, show us one. A false POCSO case was also filed to intimidate him, but he did not bow down,” he said.

In another signal to Brahmins, he said the SP, whenever it has got the chance, has done the work of giving respect to the community. He touched upon the embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple as well: “Today, the biggest sin committed by anyone is that by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which stole even the offerings made to Lord Shri Ram… Lord Shri Ram will not let them win.”

‘Game changer’

Lucknow-based political analyst Asad Rizvi said the signal to Brahmins is aimed at securing a section of votes that could prove to be a game changer. “Brahmins, with a population of over 9%, are traditional BJP voters. The SP plans to align with the Brahmin community through Janeshwar Mishra’s birth anniversary. It knows that winning the community’s trust will significantly ease its path to power,” he said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday (July 2, 2026) claimed that word about the alleged “theft” of a donation at the Ram Janmbhoomi temple in Ayodhya had reached villages across Uttar Pradesh, and said the BJP would face public backlash over the issue.

“The news of the theft at a temple in Ayodhya has reached every village. This time the BJP will get neither donations, nor offerings, nor votes,” Yadav said while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters Lucknow.

Claiming that the ruling party was trying to suppress the issue, he said, “They are trying to intimidate and threaten people. They are fabricating stories and trying to link others to divert attention from the real issue.”

Invoking Lord Ram and the Constitution, the SP chief claimed the BJP had betrayed both religious values and democratic principles. “The first name associated with ‘maryada’ (propriety) is Lord Ram and the second is the Constitution. They (BJP) have betrayed faith, propriety and devotion. Now, they are preparing to undermine the Constitution and democracy as well,” he said.

“We hope the truth regarding the offerings made in the name of Lord Ram will come before people. Once the truth is out, people will deliver their verdict,” he added.

Referring to protests by lawyers in Ayodhya to lodge FIR against Ram Janmbhoomi trust officials Champat Rai, Gopal Rao and Anil Mishra, the SP chief said public resentment against the government was growing and claimed people were waiting to remove the BJP through the ballot.

Expressing support for those raising the issue of alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Mr. Yadav said he hoped justice would be done.

He further claimed people seeking justice in Uttar Pradesh are being forced to run from one government office to another, alleging widespread corruption.

“Uttar Pradesh has never witnessed corruption on such a scale. Whether at tehsils, police stations or government departments, a systematic mechanism of extortion is in operation,” he alleged.

Amid the Ram Temple embezzlement case, the Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (June 27, 2026) vowed to restore and nurture the eternal glory of Ayodhya as a centre of faith and devotion.

He claimed that a new SP-led government of Uttar Pradesh will develop Ayodhya as a unique and exemplary religious city, where devotees will experience true spirituality.

“We take this pledge with righteousness and truthfulness that by forming a new government, we will develop ‘Ayodhya’ as a unique and exemplary religious city, where devotees coming from all over the world will experience true spirituality. With the blessings of the Lord, we will restore and nurture the eternal glory of Ayodhya as ‘Siyaram-Dham’ of faith, devotion, unwavering belief and true spirit. This will also restore the traditional pride and rights of the people of Ayodhya,” wrote Mr. Yadav on social media platform X.  

The SP further said that the ideas of Lord Ram are inherently socialist and these ideals have been followed by the party and its ideological forefathers, including socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia.

“Socialists in India believe in the ideas and teachings of Lord Ram. Our icon, Ram Manohar Lohia, was the first leader in independent India to start the Ramayan Mela in the 1960s. We want a socialist, democratic India based on the teachings of Lord Ram. Our leader, Akhilesh Yadav ji, is carrying forward Lohia ji’s rich socialist legacy. The BJP and RSS have sold the name of Bhagwan Ram for political gain and played with the emotions of devotees,” said Sunil Singh Yadav ‘Sajan’, the SP spokesperson.

Minister in Uttar Pradesh government Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) claimed that the Samajwadi Party (SP) is headed for a major split, with a large number of leaders willing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“There will be a major split in the Samajwadi Party. Ram Gopal Yadav has submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The entire state of Uttar Pradesh knows who the mastermind behind the mining scam and the Gomti River Front scam is. The SP is worried as the noose tightens. Leave aside Maharashtra and Bengal, the entire SP is ready to join BJP,” wrote the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president, an ally of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, on X.

The Samajwadi Party ridiculed the statement and added that such a comment is aiming at diverting attention from the organised loot committed at the Ram Temple by the BJP-RSS.

“Om Prakash Rajbhar is known for giving such statements to divert attention from key issues. Presently, the organised loot committed at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple by people linked to the BJP-RSS is discussed in public spaces; he is aiming to divert focus. The fact is, it is the Samajwadi Party which stopped the BJP from reaching the figure of 272 in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by defeating the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Our party leaders and MPs are united. The national president has categorically mentioned that a decisive victory of the SP led by INDIA in Uttar Pradesh, will subsequently lead to the fall of the Union government,” said Sunil Singh Yadav ‘Sajan’, the SP spokesperson.

Dismissed the claim of an impending split, Akhilesh Yadav said the party remained strong, and it was the BJP which had a history of “engineering” defections through inducements and pressure.

Responding to a query at a presser on possible discontent within the Samajwadi Party (SP), Mr. Yadav, its chief, said the BJP previously succeeded in breaking several parties, including taking away legislators and leaders from the SP.

“If you look at Uttar Pradesh, several SP MLAs, MLCs and even Rajya Sabha members were taken away. There must have been some self-interest, some lure or some fear… People who get scared leave their party,” he said.

Mr. Rajbhar heads the SBSP, a BJP-led NDA ally in Uttar Pradesh.

The claims come at a time when the Trinamool Congress is grappling with an unprecedented split, while the Shiv Sena (UBT), another major player in the Opposition camp, is staring at a crisis, with some of its nine Lok Sabha MPs inclined to switch to the ruling Shiv Sena.

(With inputs from PTI)

Political slugfest erupted on Saturday (May 2, 2026) over Uttar Pradesh Deputy CMs, Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, meeting each other, as Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, in a cryptic post, remarked that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was missing.

Mr. Pathak and Mr. Maurya, hit back adding their doors are open 24 hours a day to serve the public and negative comments by Mr. Yadav is unnecessary and highlights frustration.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (February 22, 2026) accused the BJP government of “playing” with his security and sought an explanation for the withdrawal of the National Security Guard (NSG) cover provided to him.

In a statement issued from the SP headquarters, the former Chief Minister said the government must clarify the reasons cited in his security cover review that led to the withdrawal.

“The BJP government is playing with my security. I had NSG security, but it was withdrawn. The government should have disclosed why,” Mr. Yadav said, alleging that security decisions were being politicised.

Mr. Yadav also referred to the withdrawal of SPG protection for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming that the BJP government had earlier removed his cover and made him vacate his official residence.

Speaking to reporters during his day-long visit to Jhansi, Mr. Yadav accused the BJP of “insulting everyone”, including a Shankaracharya and students at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj.

“They pulled the ‘shikha’ (tuft of hair) of our ‘batuks’ and humiliated them. The chief minister is constantly insulting Shankaracharya. He is demanding certificates from him,” Mr. Yadav said, adding that Yogi Adityanath should apologise for his actions.

A “true yogi” empathises with people’s suffering, he said, and alleged that the government instead celebrates bulldozing houses. He further claimed that the Chief Minister does not respect the Constitution and law, and cited cases mentioned in Adityanath’s 2017 election affidavit to attack him.

“No other chief minister has faced as many cases as the current chief minister,” the SP chief said in the statement.

Uttar Pradesh ministers on Saturday (December 20, 2025) hit out at Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over the alleged codeine-based cough syrup syndicate, accusing him of deflecting the issue through caste politics instead of cooperating with the probe.

Minister of Fisheries Sanjay Nishad said the BJP government was following a zero-tolerance policy against illegal narcotics, organised drug mafias and unlawful medicine trade, but the opposition’s conduct in the matter was deeply troubling.

“Do not try to hide the truth under the cover of caste politics. This is not a political issue but one related to the future of our youth and coming generations,” Mr. Nishad said, urging Mr. Yadav to offer a clarification rather than politicise the issue.

Referring to photographs allegedly showing Mr. Yadav with individuals linked to the cough syrup syndicate, the Minister said their emergence was “not a normal matter”.

Questioning Mr. Yadav’s silence, Mr. Nishad said, “He should explain his position.”

The Minister also questioned Yadav’s silence over reported child deaths allegedly linked to codeine-based cough syrup manufactured in Tamil Nadu, and said it raised serious questions about the opposition leader’s role.

“As far as this government is concerned, no mafia will be spared, irrespective of how big their political protection may be. No one is above the law,” Mr. Nishad asserted.

He said that under the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, special campaigns were being conducted across Uttar Pradesh — in coordination with the police and the Food Safety and Drug Administration — against the illegal storage, diversion, distribution and sale of codeine-based cough syrup and other narcotic substances.

Providing details of the action taken so far, Mr. Nishad said cases have been registered in 33 districts, 75 accused have been arrested and over 12.65 lakh bottles of banned cough syrup have been seized. Legal action has been initiated against 132 firms, decisive action taken against 15 main conspirators and lookout circulars issued against 12 key accused, while proceedings against others were underway, he added.

“The law in the Yogi government is not confined to paper; it is being enforced on the ground,” Mr. Nishad said, adding that the entire supply chain was under scrutiny under the NDPS Act and the guilty were being sent to jail.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Transport Dayashankar Singh also demanded an explanation from Mr. Yadav on why photographs of alleged mafias with him were in the public domain.

“Such people enjoyed protection under previous governments. The law existed earlier as well, but such strict action is being seen only under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership,” Mr. Singh said.

He added that criminals did not belong to any caste and the government was acting against offenders from all sections without discrimination.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has claimed that its president Akhilesh Yadav’s official Facebook account has been suspended and accused the BJP government of imposing an “undeclared emergency” to suppress every opposing voice.

According to sources, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s account with more than 8 million followers was suspended around 6 pm on Friday (October 10, 2025). The page was regularly used by the SP chief to share his views, highlight the government’s “shortcomings”, and connect with supporters.

SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chaand wrote on X, “Suspending the Facebook account of respected Akhilesh Yadav ji, the national president of the country’s third-largest party, is an attack on democracy. The BJP government has imposed an undeclared emergency, where every opposing voice is being suppressed. But the Samajwadi Party will continue to oppose the BJP’s anti-people policies.”