Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary launched a scathing attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday, targeting his recently released “PDA audit” and the promise to conduct a caste census within 90 days if the SP comes to power in the 2027 state elections.
Chaudhary Accuses SP of Family Rule and Corruption
Chaudhary accused the SP of indulging in “family rule, caste politics and corruption” during its tenure in Uttar Pradesh from 2012 to 2017. He questioned Yadav’s credibility on issues related to social justice, recruitment transparency and reservation policies, asserting that the SP had failed to prioritise the interests of backward classes and Dalits during its own rule, despite supporting the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre.
Caste Census Promise Under Fire
Referring to the SP chief’s promise of a caste census, Chaudhary said the announcement reflected either “constitutional ignorance or a deliberate attempt to mislead the public”. He alleged that the SP’s track record showed a lack of commitment to social justice, and that the promise was merely a political gimmick.
Allegations of Irregularities in Recruitment
The BJP functionary also targeted the previous SP government over alleged irregularities in recruitment processes, particularly in the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC). He claimed that appointments during the SP regime were influenced by “parchi and kharchi” — a Hindi phrase referring to recommendations and bribery — rather than merit. Chaudhary asserted that the current BJP government had provided more than six lakh government jobs in the state, with transparent recruitment processes compliant with reservation norms.
69,000 Teacher Recruitment Case
On the ongoing controversy surrounding the 69,000 teacher recruitment case, Chaudhary said the issue was rooted in “policy mistakes” made during the SP’s tenure and noted that the matter remains sub judice. He emphasised that the BJP government was committed to merit-based appointments.
BJP vs SP on PDA
Drawing a contrast between the two parties’ interpretation of ‘PDA’, Chaudhary said the SP’s PDA represented “Parivar (family), Dal (party) and a particular vote bank”, while the BJP’s PDA stood for the poor and marginalised sections who were benefiting from welfare schemes without discrimination. He also highlighted the BJP’s outreach to non-Yadav Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and non-Jatav Dalits, claiming that these groups had been given adequate representation in both the government and the party organisation.
