Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 12 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday welcomed the formation of the ‘Samajik Parivartan Morcha’ by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Azad Samaj Party-Kanshiram president Chandrashekhar Azad, saying the development would provide another option to voters and cost the BJP 2-3 per cent of its vote share in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
In a post shared on X, Yadav said social change was necessary but asserted that real success would come when a ‘Political Change Front’ became active. He said the Samajwadi Party would help ensure that the genuine voice of the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) reached the people, provided it fought communal forces and raised issues concerning society.
“We welcome the ‘Samajik Parivartan Morcha’ (Social Change Front)! Change at the social level is certainly necessary, but true success will only be achieved when the ‘Rajneetik Parivartan Morcha’ (Political Change Front) becomes active. Whoever genuinely fights against communal forces for the welfare of the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) community and raises the voice of the PDA society, we will cooperate in taking their honest voice to the public,” Yadav said.
He said the formation of the front could benefit the Opposition by giving voters who had earlier supported communal forces under the influence of emotional slogans and deception another political option.
“One benefit of this to the opposition will be that those who used to vote for communal forces after falling for emotional rhetoric and deception will no longer go towards them. Another option will now be open for such innocent people who vote after being misled. This will cause an additional loss of 2–3% of votes to the BJP. The BJP will be left nowhere,” the SP chief said.
Yadav also cautioned against political fronts formed merely to create a stir through statements, saying such initiatives would strengthen democracy only if they were driven by the genuine intention of working for the welfare of their respective communities and not by the agenda of a third party.
“The public understands the truth of those whose sole purpose is to create a stir through mere words and statements. The truth is that such fronts make democracy even stronger, provided the intention behind them is the welfare of their own community, and not the sinister design of some third party. If someone ends up becoming a puppet of politics, the public even ensures their security deposit is forfeited,” he said.
He further expressed hope that the practice of a ‘contract system of votes’ in politics would end and said voters in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections would support the political formation with a stronger core vote base. Yadav asserted that the PDA remained the biggest option for people seeking change.
“Hopefully, the ‘contract system of votes’ (voton ki thekedari pratha) in politics will end, and everyone will work for the true interest of their community. With this long-awaited development having taken place today, it has also become clear that in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the public genuinely seeking ‘change’ will go towards whoever has a larger core vote base, and in this context, there is no bigger alternative than ‘PDA’. Heartfelt best wishes!” Yadav added.
https://x.com/yadavakhilesh/status/2120854728661971308
The SP chief’s remarks come amid a political exchange following Owaisi’s announcement of the ‘Samajik Parivartan Morcha’ and his decision to name Chandrashekhar Azad as the alliance’s Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Owaisi had said the alliance between the AIMIM and the Azad Samaj Party-Kanshiram was formed on the basis of mutual respect to provide a strong political alternative in the state. He said the front would focus on issues such as education, unemployment, healthcare and farmers, and alleged that other political parties were incapable of stopping the BJP.
The AIMIM chief also challenged Yadav to name a Muslim leader from within the SP as its Chief Ministerial candidate and questioned why he had not stepped aside to make way for such a leader. Recalling the Muzaffarnagar incident, Owaisi said more than 50,000 people had been left homeless.
“Akhilesh Yadav should go ahead, name one! Pick anyone from your party and step aside to let them lead. Who is stopping you? You were the Chief Minister for so many years, and your tenure ended in 2017. Now you talk about having a Muslim Chief Minister? Take a look at yourself in the mirror! Remember the Muzaffarnagar incident? More than 50,000 people were left homeless. How can you even talk about ‘safety’?” Owaisi told reporters.
Responding to Owaisi’s remarks, SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi questioned his role in the political developments in Uttar Pradesh and asked him to focus on issues in his home state.
“Well, the INDIA alliance already has the Muslim League. Why is Owaisi travelling from Hyderabad to lay the political groundwork for Chandrashekhar instead of strengthening his own position? I strongly object to Owaisi’s referring to Muslims as “Abdul”. The correct terms are Muslim or Musalman. Muslims must protect their own rights and choose their representatives through their own judgement, rather than depending on leaders from other states. Owaisi should focus on issues back home. There are attempts to convert the historic Charminar into a temple. Why doesn’t he speak out on this issue?” Nadvi told ANI.
Nadvi also expressed confidence in Yadav’s leadership, saying the people of Uttar Pradesh had supported the PDA narrative and the SP chief’s message of social justice. He said he believed Yadav would form the government in the state in the upcoming elections. (ANI)
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