Akhilesh Yadav Alleges BJP Plot to Manipulate UP Polls
Voter List Scrutiny Will Expose BJP, Claims Akhilesh
Akhilesh Yadav Warns of ‘No Future Elections’ in UP, Accuses BJP of ‘Loot and Dishonesty’ in Bihar and Bengal
KASGANJ / LUCKNOW – In a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just days after the conclusion of key state elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday accused the ruling party of systematically manipulating electoral processes. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating Urmila Garden at Soron Gate in Kasganj, Yadav issued a stark warning: if the “same dishonesty” witnessed in Bihar and West Bengal is repeated in Uttar Pradesh, future elections across the state could be jeopardized—or may not happen at all.
“The kind of dishonesty seen in the Bihar and West Bengal elections, if the same loot and dishonesty happen in Uttar Pradesh, then there may never be elections in the future,” Yadav told a crowd of party workers and local residents. The remarks marked a sharp escalation in the SP’s rhetorical campaign against the BJP, coming as Uttar Pradesh prepares for a series of panchayat and assembly bypolls ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections.
‘BJP Wants a Lok Sabha of Its Own Design’
Yadav broadened his critique to encompass what he described as a national conspiracy to undermine democratic representation. “The BJP has also played games with women’s reservation. They want a Lok Sabha of their own design, one in which opposition leaders are unable to win,” he alleged, referring to the delayed implementation of the women’s quota law. He accused the ruling party of attempting to reshape the electoral architecture—from voter lists to parliamentary constituencies—to suit its political interests.
The SP chief specifically pointed to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming that the BJP had been preparing to “steal votes” by systematically deleting the names of voters from opposition strongholds. However, he asserted that the SP was now fully prepared to counter such moves. “We have to ensure, village by village and house by house, that no voter’s name is deleted,” he said, calling on party workers to mount a grassroots vigilance campaign.
‘BJP Ended Up Deleting Its Own Supporters’
In a twist that drew laughter from the audience, Yadav claimed that the BJP’s alleged attempts to manipulate voter lists had backfired. “The BJP tried to delete votes but ended up affecting its own supporters,” he said, suggesting that the party’s own booth-level workers had inadvertently removed names from BJP-leaning areas. He argued that scrutiny of voter lists for upcoming panchayat and assembly elections would expose the ruling party’s tactics.
Yadav also accused the BJP of “snatching the rights of PDA”—a reference to the Pichhda (Backward), Dalit, and Alpasankhyak (Minority) communities that form the SP’s core social coalition—and “looting reservation benefits.” He asserted that the people of Uttar Pradesh had made up their minds to “teach the BJP a lesson” and that a Samajwadi Party government would be formed in 2027.
Fake Encounters and Paper Leaks
Raising the issue of alleged fake encounters by the Uttar Pradesh police, Yadav warned that those responsible would face action if the SP returns to power. “Those who have carried out fake encounters will face action in accordance with justice when the Samajwadi government is formed, and they will go to jail,” he said, without naming specific cases but referring to a pattern of extrajudicial killings that have drawn criticism from human rights groups.
He also accused the BJP government of failing farmers and youth, alleging that farmers had neither received a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP) nor seen their incomes double as promised. On education, Yadav alleged widespread examination paper leaks, saying they had adversely affected the future of young people, including candidates appearing for NEET.
Swipe at Yogi: ‘He Had No Identity Before 2017’
In a direct attack on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Yadav said, “The chief minister says this region had no identity before 2017, whereas he himself had no identity before 2017. Socialists have always worked for the development of the state.” He also alleged deterioration in public services, claiming that ambulance services launched during the SP regime had been weakened and that government hospitals faced shortages of doctors and medicines.
According to a statement issued by the SP headquarters, Yadav concluded by saying, “There was open dishonesty in the Bengal elections. The BJP does not believe in Babasaheb’s Constitution. If it has its way, there will be no elections in the country.” The BJP has not yet formally responded to Yadav’s allegations.