Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s concerns about potential electoral manipulation in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections have been met with criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders. UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak labeled Akhilesh’s remarks as a preemptive excuse for an anticipated defeat in the 2027 polls. Pathak accused the Opposition, particularly the Samajwadi Party and Congress, of resorting to such statements to save face due to their perceived electoral setbacks even before the elections.
The exchange of words intensified following Akhilesh Yadav’s allegations that the BJP, in collaboration with the Election Commission, tampered with elections in Bihar and West Bengal. He warned of potential electoral malpractice in Uttar Pradesh, suggesting that elections might not occur in the future if similar actions were taken. Akhilesh made these claims during a public event in Kasganj while inaugurating Urmila Garden, accusing the BJP of manipulating elections through initiatives like Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and deceiving women voters with promises like the women reservation bill.
In response, Brajesh Pathak refuted Akhilesh’s accusations and highlighted the Samajwadi Party’s governance history marred by criminal influence. Pathak pointed out the BJP’s significant victory in West Bengal and compared it to the previous Congress-SP regime in Uttar Pradesh, characterized by lawlessness and dominance of criminal elements. UP Minister for Minority Welfare, Danish Ansari, also criticized Akhilesh, emphasizing the Yogi government’s commitment to progress and contrasting it with what he described as a ‘dark phase’ under the SP rule.
