NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) on Sunday, redefining the party’s acronym “PDA” during a rally in Katehari, Ambedkar Nagar.
The term, originally coined by SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav during the 2022 assembly elections to represent the “Pichhde” (backwards), Dalits, and “Alpsakhyak” (minorities), was turned on its head by Adityanath, who described it as the “Production House of Dangai (rioters) and Apradhi (criminals).”
Addressing a crowd at the rally for the upcoming November 20 bypolls, Adityanath said, “SP talks about PDA, but let me tell you what their PDA really stands for. It is the Production House of Dangai and Apradhi. The CEO of this production house is Akhilesh Yadav, and its trainer is Shivpal Yadav.” He went on to claim that every major criminal, mafia figure, and rioter was a product of the SP’s “production house.”
The chief minister alleged that the presence of an SP worker was enough to instill fear in women across the state. He further accused the SP of shielding criminals, including those involved in the Ayodhya rape case, and claimed that notorious figures like mafia don Atiq Ahmed and Khan Mubarak were also part of the SP’s criminal network.
Later, in a separate rally in Kotwa, Prayagraj, Adityanath continued his critique, accusing the SP of fostering a mafia culture. “Whether it was Atiq Ahmed in Prayagraj, Mukhtar Ansari in Ghazipur, or Khan Mubarak in Ambedkar Nagar, all of them were products of the Samajwadi Party’s production house. They were business partners in crime,” he added.
Adityanath also invoked the legacy of the socialist movement, claiming that figures like Jayaprakash Narayan, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, and Acharya Narendra Dev had once led a movement based on ideals and values, but the SP had now become a party dominated by criminals and mafia.
The chief minister further accused the SP of involvement in high-profile murders, including that of MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2006 and Raju Pal in Prayagraj, suggesting that these killings were orchestrated at the behest of the party.
As part of his campaign for the bypolls, Adityanath said the upcoming elections were not just about the present but also about securing the future. He emphasised that the BJP’s promises included development, security, and resolving local issues such as flooding.
The bypolls are being held in nine assembly constituencies, including Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sishamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki. While the SP holds several of these seats, the BJP has a strong presence in others, including Phulpur and Ghaziabad.
The Congress party has chosen not to contest, instead backing the SP, while the BSP is contesting all nine seats on its own.