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Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Samajwadi Party expels 3 MLAs accused of cross-voting in 2024 RS polls
LUCKNOW: The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party on Monday expelled three legislators, who allegedly voted to help the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win the Rajya Sabha polls in February last year, declaring that the three had been working with 'communal, divisive, and negative ideologies' which were against the party's core values. Lucknow, Jun 22 (ANI): Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference, at party office in Lucknow on Sunday. (ANI Photo) (ANI) The three lawmakers, Gosaiganj MLA Abhay Singh, Gauriganj MLA Rakesh Pratap Singh, and Unchahar MLA and former chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey, are also among the seven who voted in favour of BJP candidates during the Rajya Sabha elections in February 2024. The cross-voting had helped the BJP win 8 out of the 10 seats, though the SP had the numbers to claim at least three seats. The SP said the 'grace period' given to these legislators for a change of heart had expired. There is no room in the party for individuals who act against public welfare or its core ideological framework. The SP announced the expulsion of the three legislators on X, accusing them of supporting forces that are anti-farmer, anti-women, anti-youth, anti-business, anti-employment, and against the rights of the marginalised. 'Samajwadi Party expels the following MLAs from the party in public interest for supporting communal divisive negativity and anti-farmer, women, youth, business, employed and 'anti-PDA' ideology, contrary to the politics of socialist harmony and positive ideology. MLA Gosaiganj Abhay Singh, MLA Gauriganj Rakesh Pratap Singh and MLA Unchahar Manoj Kumar Pandey,' the party said in a statement. The grace period for the other four legislators who had supported the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections has not ended due to good behaviour, it said. These four legislators include Bisauli MLA Ashutosh Maurya, Kalpi MLA Vinod Chaturvedi, Chail MLA Puja Pal and Jalalpur MLA Rakesh Pandey. SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand said the three legislators had been working against the PDA [Pichda (backward), Dalit, Alpsankyhak (minority)] and had been speaking in favour of the wrongdoings of the BJP. 'They were given time to improve but unfortunately, they continued to speak against PDA, hence this action was taken by the party,' Chand said. The SP had fielded three candidates – incumbent MP Jaya Bachchan, former chief secretary Alok Ranjan and Dalit leader Ramji Lal Suman - for the February 2024 elections. Only Jaya Bachchan and Ramjilal Suman won while Alok Ranjan lost due to cross voting. At the time, the rebel MLAs had claimed that the SP leadership hadn't allowed them to visit the Ram Lalla temple in Ayodhya on an invitation from UP assembly speaker Satish Mahana. After their rebellion, some of these MLAs visited the Ram Temple.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Can't trust BJP with caste census data: Akhilesh
: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday expressed doubts over figures and data that will be issued by the Central government after the caste-based census. He expressed this view on the day when the central government issued a notification for conducting India's 16th census, which will include caste enumeration in 2027. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister alleged that the BJP couldn't give correct data of those who died in the Mahakumbh 2025 and hence it can't be trusted with the caste census data either. The Kannauj MP made these comments during a press conference at the SP headquarters in Lucknow. 'The BJP is the party that lies the most. The entire government lied about the death toll of devotees in the accident that took place in Prayagraj Mahakumbh,' he said. 'The government did not reveal the correct number of people who died in the Kumbh incident but the money was given to the families of the deceased after reaching their homes. If people did not die in the stampede, then under which rule was the money given and on whose orders was it given?' the SP chief asked. On the census notification, he said, 'People who can lie in a holy matter like Mahakumbh are not trustworthy. Such people cannot be trusted in the matter of voter list and caste census data. The BJP government manipulates the data. Everyone has to keep an eye on the caste census data. One has to be completely alert.' Turning to other issues, Yadav alleged,'The BJP government has ruined the health department like the electricity department. There is no infrastructure in the medical colleges.' Accusing the BJP government of usurping the rights of the PDA (Pichda or backwards, Dalits and Alpsankhyak or minorities), Yadav claimed it is not giving reservation as per rules. 'No one is getting justice in the BJP government. Both the deputy chief ministers of the BJP government are instigating caste conflict,' he said. In response to a question, Yadav said fighting should stop between countries. 'We are not in favour of any war. We will ask the central government to bring back all the citizens of our country who are stranded in war-torn countries,' he stated. Yadav also chaired a meeting of the SP minority wing at the SP office in Lucknow. Describing the Samajwadi Minority Sabha as a very important organisation of the party, he said, 'Everyone has pledged that they will work to improve their voter list. To stop the conspiracy, plot and rigging of the BJP in the elections, we will go to villages, streets and mohallas to correct the voter list. We will file an objection to the fake votes created by BJP.'
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pressure of PDA behind caste census announcement: Akhilesh
: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the Centre's announcement of a caste-based census was the result of pressure by 90% people of the country who belong to the PDA (Pichda or backward, Dalit and Alpsankhyak or minorities) section of the society. He also said his party will ensure proper implementation of the caste survey. Yadav was speaking to the media at the SP headquarters in Lucknow. 'After this, we will ensure that we get our rights as per the population,' he said. Following a meeting with Suheldev Samman Swabhiman Party (SSSP) chief Mahendra Rajbhar and his party workers, Yadav announced that a grand statue of Maharaja Suheldev will be installed at the Gomti riverfront in Lucknow when his party comes to power in the state. The statue will have a sword made of alloy and gold ore. 'I am happy that SSSP people are also in favour of caste census, which has been our long-standing demand. The SSSP workers gave some suggestions today and I want to assure them that their suggestions will be taken care of when we come to power. We expect that PDA people and brothers from SSSP will support us in 2027 also just like they stood by us in 2024,' Yadav said. On the night landing by IAF jets on the Ganga Expressway, the SP chief said, 'What is the difference between day and night landing? You just need lights at night. This is not a new technology. The vision of the Samajwadi Party is being followed by the BJP government. We are proud of the fact that we were the ones who created such infrastructure for defence in the state.' Reacting to the demolition of madrasas and mosques on India-Nepal border by the UP government, the Kannauj MP said, 'This is very serious, the behaviour of the government is in question. Nothing is said to those who give open threats and display swords. There is no action against them. The way in which the vote graph of the BJP has gone down, now they are trying to impress their hardcore voters by bringing the Waqf law and (taking) action against madrasas and mosques.' 'Whatever is happening in Nainital, it is the result of communal politics of the BJP. All they know is to spread hatred and communal propaganda,' the SP chief said. Whenever his party forms a government in the state, he will revive the Old Pension Scheme in Uttar Pradesh, he to the SP chief's announcement of putting up a statue of Maharaja Suheldev in Lucknow, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) national spokesperson Arun Rajbhar said, 'The SP does not respect great men. When they were in power, they never thought of Maharaja Suheldev. The SP should first respect Maharaja Suheldev Rajbhar by putting his photo on its banners.'
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In preparation for 2027, Akhilesh steps up press meets, attacks on Yogi govt
The Samajwadi Party (SP) headquarters in Lucknow has been teeming with mediapersons and prominent leaders of late. It's thanks to party chief Akhilesh Yadav's almost daily media conferences to raise issues, questioning the BJP and the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government. Party insiders say that with the 2027 Assembly polls in mind, Akhilesh has intensified his attacks, focusing on the alleged neglect of the 'PDA' – Pichda (backward), Dalit, Alpsankhyak (minorities), as per the SP's formulation – as well as government postings in various districts which, he claims, are determined by caste. A senior party leader said Akhilesh will be stepping up his interactions with the media even more in the coming days, and tour the state while continuing to slam the government when in Lucknow. 'He will start visiting districts to prepare the ground for the Assembly polls,' the leader said. SP leaders said that party MPs, MLAs and workers have also hit the ground at the booth-level in all the 403 Assembly constituencies in the state, reaching out to Muslims, OBCs and Dalits. Over the past week alone, the SP chief has held press conferences on five days, including Friday, raising issues like the attack on party MP Ramji Lal Suman by members of the Karni Sena over his alleged derogatory remarks on Rajput icon Maharana Pratap, and the Pahalgam terror attack. On Thursday, after a controversy broke out over a poster put up by the SP's frontal body, the Samajwadi Lohia Vahini, that contained a photo of B R Ambedkar with Akhilesh superimposed on one half, he held a press conference and appealed to party workers not to compare SP leaders to any prominent personalities. The BJP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) trained guns on the SP over the poster calling it an 'insult to Ambedkar'. With Lohia Vahini leader Lal Chandra Gautam by side, Akhilesh told the media that Gautam would not put up such posters in the future. As a symbolic gesture amid the party's attempts to woo the Dalits, seen to be the BSP's core voter base, Gautam handed over a miniature Ambedkar statue to Akhilesh. Apart from this, the SP chief spoke about how the INDIA bloc was instrumental in 'forcing' the Centre to undertake a nationwide caste census, a decision cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. Akhilesh has also been accusing government officials of 'indulging in corruption' and attacking Adityanath for targeting 'a particular community' with 'bulldozer action'. The SP chief has fallen back on the party's old allegation that Adityanath had carried out 'purification' of the CM's residence when he first moved in, as Akhilesh (who is an OBC) occupied it before him. The SP chief has been claiming a growing gap between the CM and the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, saying Adityanath does not share 'good relations' with some leaders of the BJP. He has repeatedly reiterated that the INDIA bloc will contest the 2017 polls together, and that the PDA will help SP form the government in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from targeting Adityanath in his media interactions, the SP chief trained guns on him during a visit to Ballia district on Wednesday. ' Koi vastra se yogi nahin hota, vicharon se yogi hota hai (an attire does not make a person a yogi, their thoughts do),' he said.
