BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM
Samajwadi Party National President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has described the Legislative Council election results as merely the beginning of the BJP’s political decline, declaring that the ruling party has turned into an electoral failure. He asserted that despite securing five seats, the BJP suffered defeats across 50 districts and cities. He accused the BJP of grossly abusing its official machinery and attempting large-scale electoral malpractice throughout the night to secure victories.
The struggle faced by voters and party workers, he said, has sent a clear message to the public that the BJP is a dishonest party that thrives on deception. Yadav alleged that the BJP managed to win six seats through manipulation, whereas the Samajwadi Party secured its victories through popular support. Had the BJP government not resorted to deceit and misuse of power, it would never have managed to win even those six seats. While the BJP commands financial muscle, he asserted, the Samajwadi Party possesses the strength of the people.
Addressing a press conference at the Samajwadi Party state headquarters on Friday, after meeting and welcoming the newly elected Legislative Council members and party candidates, Yadav said the party would continue its sustained efforts to strengthen the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) alliance. He reaffirmed his commitment to establishing social justice in accordance with the Constitution framed under the leadership of Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and strengthening democratic institutions.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Yadav said those who had prepared grand celebrations to mark their anticipated victory were left completely humiliated by the results. In Gorakhpur, he remarked, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in his determination to defeat the Samajwadi Party, had ultimately damaged his own party’s electoral prospects. Yadav maintained that the election results had completely overturned the BJP’s political calculations.
He said the Samajwadi Party had successfully expanded its social base, with leaders and communities including Sanjay Tripathi, Dr. Akash Agrawal and the Vaishya community rallying behind the party. He also highlighted the support of women voters, represented by Kanti Singh, the Kayastha community through Ashutosh Sinha, Lal Bihari Yadav and Dr. Man Singh, whose emphatic victory, he said, had enhanced the party’s prestige.
He congratulated all newly elected members and thanked voters for their confidence. He also acknowledged the dedication of party leaders and workers who campaigned tirelessly, reached out to voters and fought through the night during the counting process. Referring to the Varanasi results, Yadav said voters had sent the BJP’s much-publicised double-engine government sinking in Kashi.
He described Dr. Akash Agrawal’s victory from Agra as a significant gift to the Samajwadi Party. He alleged that political manoeuvring by the Chief Minister in Gorakhpur had prevented Sanjay Tripathi from winning. Yadav asserted that every Samajwadi Party candidate fought courageously and delivered a powerful message: democracy would not be allowed to be dismantled, and the voice of the people would continue to be strengthened.
The newly elected members present included Lal Bihari Yadav (Varanasi Teachers’ Constituency), Dr. Man Singh Yadav (Allahabad-Jhansi Graduates’ Constituency), Kanti Singh (Lucknow Graduates’ Constituency), Ashutosh Sinha (Varanasi Graduates’ Constituency) and Dr. Akash Agrawal (Agra Teachers’ Constituency). Sanjay Tripathi, the party’s candidate from the Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers’ Constituency, also expressed gratitude to Akhilesh Yadav, voters, party leaders, workers and supporters for their support.
