Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of failing to deliver on governance. He alleged that the recent expansion of the state cabinet would only exacerbate inflation, corruption, and public exploitation rather than bring any meaningful improvement.
Akhilesh questions cabinet expansion ahead of 2027 polls
Questioning the timing and effectiveness of the cabinet expansion with the 2027 Assembly elections in mind, Akhilesh asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had failed to serve the people even after nine years in power. He claimed that adding more ministers in the "last nine months" would not alter the ground realities. "If the BJP government could not do anything for the people in nine years, what will these ministers achieve in the last few months? They will only continue increasing corruption, inflation, and unemployment," he said.
Allegations of corruption and injustice
The Samajwadi Party chief alleged that corruption and atrocities had peaked under the BJP regime. He claimed that the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) community was facing systematic injustice. "The public is distressed, development works have come to a standstill, and the government is looting the public budget while also cutting into the pockets of ordinary people," he alleged.
Akhilesh also targeted the state government over alleged irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission, pointing to repeated incidents of collapsing water tanks as evidence of corruption in the scheme's implementation. "Water tanks under the Jal Jeevan Mission are unable to bear the burden of BJP corruption," he remarked.
Furthermore, he accused the government of ruining the health and education sectors due to commission-based functioning and profiteering, which, according to him, worsened inflation and corruption. The former chief minister also alleged that smart electricity meters were being used to financially burden consumers while benefiting industrialists. "Through smart meters, the BJP government is taking money out of the pockets of electricity consumers and putting it into the pockets of industrialists," he alleged.
Reservation scams and PDA politics
Akhilesh claimed that the ruling party was indulging in "reservation scams" in government jobs and attempting to deprive people of their rights. He said the BJP was "afraid" of the Samajwadi Party's PDA politics and asserted that backward classes, Dalits, and minorities were uniting against the ruling party. "The PDA society understands the BJP's politics and will defeat every conspiracy and plot of the ruling party," he said.
Promises of welfare measures
Promising welfare measures if the Samajwadi Party returns to power, Akhilesh said his party would ensure rights, dignity, and justice for PDA communities, provide free treatment to the poor, and offer free education for girls from kindergarten to postgraduate level.
He also spoke philosophically about greed, selfishness, and moral transformation, saying that a person's "greed and temptation" ultimately lead to misconduct, while selflessness and public service could bring meaningful change. "Even a few good qualities can triumph over hundreds of flaws. One needs inner light for self-realisation and repentance," he said, concluding with the Sanskrit phrase "Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya" — meaning "Lead me from darkness to light."
