Akhilesh Yadav urges Congress to foster unity among smaller parties ahead of elections

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav emphasized on Friday that the Congress bears a “significant responsibility” in fostering collaboration with smaller parties. Responding to questions about Mamata Banerjee’s decision for the TMC to go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister asserted that it is the “big responsibility” of Congress to persuade and unite smaller parties.

Addressing the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc, comprising the SP, Congress, TMC, and various opposition parties nationwide, Yadav expressed hopes that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would not join the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and would instead reinforce the INDIA bloc.

Highlighting ongoing alliance efforts in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav stated, “A very good alliance is being forged. The alliance is not based on seats, but on victory.” When questioned about the number of seats Congress would secure, he responded, “Victory is part of the seat-sharing strategy.”

Referring to the possibility of his own candidacy in Kannauj for the Lok Sabha elections, Yadav declared, “The Samajwadi Party will contest from Kannauj, and the BJP will be eradicated from here.” Criticizing the government on the Gyanvapi survey, he alleged that such actions stem from the peak of inflation and unemployment, describing it as a “conspiracy to break the fabric of our brotherhood and unity.”

Concluding his visit to Fakirpura village in the Tirwa Assembly constituency in Kannauj, where he held a Jan Panchayat, Yadav asserted that the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak) coalition would defeat the NDA in the Lok Sabha elections. He claimed, “The public has made up its mind to be with the PDA, the PDA is the voice of 90 per cent of the population, and only the PDA will defeat the NDA in the Lok Sabha elections.”

As part of the PDA Jan Panchayat Fortnight, Yadav announced meetings of Dalits, backward classes, minority communities, and oppressed people in all Assemblies, aiming to strengthen the concept of social justice outlined in the Constitution by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. Yadav asserted, “The Samajwadi Party is determined to save democracy and the Constitution through PDA Jan Panchayat against the oppression, exploitation, and social injustice faced by backward classes, Dalits, minorities, and women under the BJP government.”