The political atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh intensified on Thursday as Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati exchanged sharp barbs, trading accusations of opportunism and hidden alliances, UP to witness Assembly elections just about 16 months later.
The war of words escalated after Akhilesh Yadav directly alleged that the BSP has entered into a "secret agreement" with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that Mayawati is "grateful to the oppressors" for mutual benefit.
His remarks were a sharp retort to Mayawati's earlier comments, where she labeled the Samajwadi Party as "two-faced" and accused it of remembering Dalits and their icons only during elections.
"Internal Collusion Continues," Alleges Akhilesh
Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav launched a multi-pronged attack, seeking to counter Mayawati's narrative and question her party's stance.
"Because 'their' internal collusion continues, that is why they are grateful to their oppressors," Yadav stated, in a clear reference to the BSP's perceived softness towards the BJP.
He invoked historical political support to underscore his point, noting that it was the SP and his father, party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, who supported BSP founder Kanshi Ram in becoming an MP from Etawah. In a personal dig, he added, "If anyone other than Mayawati has installed her statue, it’s me... During the SP government, all memorials were properly maintained."
Shifting to his party's agenda, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to the PDA (Pichhde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak - Backwards, Dalits, and Minorities) formula and called for its strengthening. He positioned the SP and the opposition INDIA alliance as the only viable alternative for a democratic and socially just government in the state.
"If we keep connecting with people, then the Samajwadi Party and the INDIA alliance will form government in the near future," he asserted, projecting confidence for the upcoming electoral battle.
Mayawati's "Two-Faced" Accusation and Praise for Yogi Govt
Earlier in the day, while addressing a rally to mark the 19th death anniversary of Kanshi Ram, Mayawati set the stage for the confrontation. She accused the SP of hypocrisy in its approach towards Dalits and their legacy.
"When they are in power, they neither remember PDA, nor saints, gurus, and great personalities associated with it. But the moment they lose power, they suddenly start remembering our saints, gurus, and great men. People need to be very cautious of such double-faced individuals," she cautioned her supporters.
In a move that provided fodder for Akhilesh Yadav's subsequent allegations, Mayawati praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the BJP government for maintaining the parks and memorials built during her tenure.
She revealed that she had written to the Chief Minister requesting that the ticket revenue from these sites be used for their upkeep. "The BJP government assured us that this money would not be diverted elsewhere but would be used only for upkeep and they did so. For this, our party is thankful to them," she stated.
This public appreciation for the ruling BJP, juxtaposed with her sharp criticism of the SP, has fueled the long-standing speculation about a tacit understanding between the BSP and the BJP, a charge that Akhilesh Yadav was quick to formalize in his press conference.
The heated exchange underscores the complex and often shifting political equations in Uttar Pradesh, where the battle for the pivotal Dalit and OBC vote is set to define the electoral landscape in 2024.
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