SP chief Akhilesh Yadav asserted his party is ‘united’ to form the government in UP in 2027 and that the BJP will be wiped out. He backed a caste census, accused the BJP of delaying women’s reservation, and met jailed leader Azam Khan in Rampur.
Speaking to ANI, Yadav said, “We are all united to form the government in 2027. And we will all work together. Azam Sahab was, is, and will always be [with us].”
SP Backs Caste Census, Women’s Reservation
Reacting to the demand for a caste census, Yadav said it had become a common demand among political parties, particularly those representing backward classes, Dalits and marginalised communities that do not receive reservation in proportion to their population. “It has now become a common demand across all parties—especially among the backward classes, Dalits, and those who do not receive reservation in proportion to their population—that a caste census should be conducted,” he said.
He added that these communities wanted reservation in proportion to their population and expressed support for the demand. “They want reservation to be granted in proportion to their population. I support this, and I believe that whether it is the Bind, Nishad, or Kashyap communities—or any other backwards, Dalit, or marginalised group—everyone wants reservation based on their population,” Yadav said.
Asked about the 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, the SP chief accused the BJP of deliberately delaying its implementation, saying the party could ensure greater representation for women if it wanted to. “Well, the Women’s Reservation Bill has already been passed. The BJP deliberately does not want to grant this reservation to women. If the BJP truly wanted to, the reservation could be implemented today,” he said.
Yadav said the SP had directed that women should constitute 33 per cent of the candidates fielded by the party, describing it as a formula championed by former SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, whom he referred to as ‘Netaji’. “As for our party, we have set a clear directive: the party must ensure that 33% of the candidates fielded are women—a formula that was championed by Netaji and the Samajwadi Party,” he added.
Responding to a question about AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi visiting Rampur and fielding candidates in the constituency, Yadav said anyone was entitled to contest elections in a democracy. “Look, in a democracy, anyone can contest elections. The people of Uttar Pradesh want to remove the Bharatiya Janata Party,” he said.
Predicting a decisive defeat for the ruling party in the 2027 state Assembly elections, Yadav said, “The Bharatiya Janata Party is going to be wiped out from Uttar Pradesh. No matter what conspiracies or schemes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may devise, they will not succeed this time.”
Yadav Accuses BJP of Targeting Azam Khan
Earlier, after meeting senior SP leader Azam Khan at Rampur district jail, Yadav accused the BJP government of targeting Khan and his family through what he described as fabricated cases. He also alleged that the government had deliberately damaged Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur.
“I have just met with Azam Khan, and he will receive justice. I inquired about his well-being, and we discussed how the university has been ruined… As for the injustice inflicted— perhaps in all of political history, no other family has faced as many False cases as the family of Azam Khan,” Yadav said.
Accusing the BJP of disregarding education and targeting Khan’s educational initiatives, Yadav said the alleged action against the university was part of a deliberate conspiracy. “An injustice has been perpetrated against the family of the respected Azam Khan… They have been subjected to fabricated cases. He has spent so many years in prison. The truth is that the BJP has no concern for education, nor for anything related to it… They have shown no concern for the university; in fact, they have destroyed the university (Mohammad Ali Jauhar University). A deliberate conspiracy and plot was hatched to ruin the university; perhaps no other government, or rather, no other dictatorial regime, has ever caused such devastation to the field of education on this earth,” Yadav said.
The visit comes ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Azam Khan, a 10-time MLA from Rampur Sadar and a former Cabinet minister, has been one of the SP’s prominent Muslim leaders. Khan has been lodged in Rampur district jail since November last year following his conviction in a forgery case.
BJP, Allies Slam Akhilesh’s Visit
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar criticised Yadav’s planned meeting, calling it an election-related exercise aimed at securing Muslim votes. “They are going today just to create an election gimmick. They are trying to secure Muslim votes with the help of Azam Khan. But Akhilesh Yadav has forgotten that Muslims will no longer spread the carpet for him,” Rajbhar said.
“The same Akhilesh Yadav who sent Azam Khan to jail is now going to meet him. The cases against Azam Khan were filed under his government. Azam Khan is in jail for the wrong he did. He was in jail for so long, but Akhilesh never went to meet him,” he added.
BJP leader Narendra Kashyap also alleged that Yadav was visiting Khan to discuss election strategy and accused the SP chief of political opportunism. “What kind of strategy could Akhilesh Yadav possibly devise with someone who is currently incarcerated, facing nearly 100 criminal cases, including charges of corruption and document forgery? Rather than genuinely helping or supporting him, Akhilesh Yadav is merely seeking to exploit Azam Khan, solely because he is a Muslim. Such political opportunism has no place in our political landscape,” he told ANI. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)