BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM
Samajwadi Party national president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has set a target of adding 27,000 votes in every assembly constituency to expand the party’s support base. Speaking at a press conference after the state executive committee meeting at the party headquarters in Lucknow, Yadav said the organisation would rely on technology, public outreach, assistance in securing justice and respectful engagement with all sections of society.
The announcement signals the party’s effort to strengthen its grassroots structure ahead of the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Yadav said the goal was to bring these additional votes to the Samajwadi Party while reducing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral support. He underlined the need for direct contact with people and a political approach centred on dignity and public service.
Yadav criticised the BJP government’s record on agriculture, employment and economic policy. He said farmers had not received the promised doubling of income and that agricultural produce was not being purchased at remunerative prices. On the sugar industry, he claimed farmers were not getting an adequate share of profits and argued that the benefits of ethanol production should also reach sugarcane growers.
He raised concerns about unemployment among the youth, recruitment examinations and investment in the state. Yadav alleged that paper leaks had become common, government jobs had declined and promised investments had not created enough employment. He also referred to land acquisition, compensation and circle rates, citing Ayodhya as an example of alleged irregularities.
On reservation and representation, Yadav said the BJP government had failed to protect the interests of the PDA grouping of backward classes, Dalits and minorities. He pointed to lateral entry and outsourcing as evidence of weakening reservation policies and claimed that PDA officers were not receiving appropriate postings. Yadav stressed that social harmony and communal goodwill were essential for prosperity. Addressing Muslim citizens, he thanked them for their patience in the face of attempts to disturb the social environment.
He also expressed concern over alleged attacks on statues of Dr B.R. Ambedkar across Uttar Pradesh. According to the figures he presented, 151 statues had been damaged while arrests had been made in only 14 cases. These figures formed part of the opposition’s criticism of the state government’s handling of such incidents. The SP leader further accused the BJP of undermining constitutional values and said inflation was increasing the burden on ordinary families. He criticised rising prices of essential commodities and questioned the government’s economic priorities.
Outlining his vision for a future Samajwadi Party government, Yadav said artificial intelligence and advanced technology would be prioritised in agriculture, healthcare and education. He proposed using remote sensing and other technological tools to assist farmers, improve crop management and strengthen public services. He said his government would investigate allegations of fake encounters and examine the circumstances of vehicle accidents involving government operations. Referring to the previous SP government, he cited UP Dial 100 and the laptop distribution scheme as examples of technology based initiatives.
Yadav announced proposed financial support for women, including a pension of ₹40,000 and an additional ₹2 lakh for business activities. He said the party would work to expand women’s economic opportunities. He also promised remunerative prices for farmers, payment to sugarcane growers within 24 hours and a system under which farmers would share in profits from ethanol and sugar production. The SP president said his party would promote local production of palm oil and mustard oil through specialised factories.
He further pledged to address alleged discrimination in circle rates and withdraw what he described as false cases registered under the BJP government. Yadav’s announcements combine electoral mobilisation with proposed economic and social welfare measures. As parties in Uttar Pradesh prepare for the 2027 Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party’s stated agenda places voter outreach, social representation, technology driven governance and agricultural support at the centre of its political programme.
