KULDEEP SINGH YADAV
Samajwadi Party (SP) National President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has launched a two-pronged political offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), targeting both the Centre’s ethanol-blending policy and the state government’s handling of law and order. His remarks reflect the SP’s strategy of combining economic concerns with social justice issues as political parties gradually position themselves ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
On the economic front, Akhilesh Yadav described ethanol as “the new name of profiteering,” alleging that the policy has become a partnership between the government, ethanol manufacturers and oil companies at the expense of ordinary consumers. While acknowledging that the government promotes ethanol blending as a measure to reduce pollution and lower India’s dependence on imported crude oil, he questioned whether the policy’s hidden costs are being adequately discussed.
According to Yadav, motorists are increasingly facing lower fuel efficiency, frequent starting problems, higher maintenance expenses and reduced resale value of vehicles. He argued that older vehicles, which were not designed to operate with higher ethanol blends, are particularly vulnerable to corrosion and mechanical wear, ultimately increasing financial pressure on middle-class families already struggling with inflation. He further contended that diverting food crops towards fuel production could contribute to food inflation while the large quantities of water required for ethanol production raise environmental concerns.
These criticisms echo concerns that have surfaced among sections of vehicle owners and industry experts, although the government has consistently maintained that ethanol blending offers long-term environmental and energy security benefits when implemented according to approved standards.
Shifting focus to law and order, Akhilesh Yadav accused the Uttar Pradesh government of allowing police excesses, particularly against Dalits, backward communities, minorities and other disadvantaged sections. Referring to the reported custodial death of a Dalit youth in Ballia and earlier police action in Meerut during protests seeking justice for Lalita Gautam, he alleged that such incidents demonstrate a growing pattern of police high-handedness under the BJP government.
Yadav further claimed that the administration has become insensitive towards the grievances of poor and marginalized citizens, alleging that victims are often denied justice while law enforcement agencies act with impunity. He also criticized the state’s leadership, arguing that insensitive responses to victims’ families send the wrong message to the police force.
By linking economic hardships caused by fuel policies with allegations of deteriorating law and order, the Samajwadi Party is attempting to broaden its political narrative beyond traditional opposition issues. Whether these arguments resonate with voters will become clearer as Uttar Pradesh moves closer to the crucial 2027 electoral battle, where governance, inflation and public confidence in institutions are expected to remain dominant campaign themes.
