"Courts have taken note": Akhilesh Yadav alleges PDA discrimination in UP
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claims BJP government is discriminating against PDA communities in Uttar Pradesh during Rajya Sabha nominations.
Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh, accusing it of maintaining a "discriminatory attitude" toward specific social groups. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Yadav claimed that the state's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpashankhyak) communities have been the primary targets of systemic bias since the current administration took office.
"They have adopted a discriminatory attitude from the very first day," Yadav asserted. He further emphasized that the judiciary has been observant of these trends, stating, "The courts have taken note of it several times... The most discrimination in the entire Uttar Pradesh has been against PDA."
Rajya Sabha Nominations Underway
Yadav's remarks were made during a significant political move as the Samajwadi Party formally entered the fray for the upcoming biennial Rajya Sabha elections. The SP chief accompanied party nominees Professor Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as they filed their nomination papers in Lucknow.
The Samajwadi Party has officially put forward these two candidates to contest the seats. When pressed by reporters on whether the party intended to field a third candidate, veteran leader Ram Gopal Yadav remained cautious. "Only the National President can tell you about that," he remarked, referring to the party's top leadership.
Reflecting on his long political journey, Ram Gopal Yadav noted his extensive tenure in the upper house, mentioning that he has been a candidate for 34 years and is now seeking another six-year term.
Internal Debates and Political Pressure
The discussion regarding a potential third candidate is not merely speculative; it follows recent friction within the political landscape. Om Prakash Rajbhar, a Uttar Pradesh Minister and leader of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, recently raised questions regarding the representation of the PDA formula within the SP's choices.
In a social media post on X, Rajbhar challenged Akhilesh Yadav to ensure that if the SP were to field three candidates, they would all represent the PDA categories. He also cautioned the Samajwadi Party against pursuing a third seat.
Key Election Details
- Election Date: Polling for the Rajya Sabha seats is scheduled for October 16.
- Seats at Stake: A total of 11 seats are up for grabs, including 10 from Uttar Pradesh and one from Uttarakhand.
- Term Expiry: The current members' terms are set to end on November 25.
This nomination process occurs amidst a backdrop of ongoing tension between the Samajwadi Party and the Election Commission. Yadav has previously voiced concerns regarding electoral integrity, alleging that the votes of SP supporters were intentionally removed during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections—a claim that the BJP has consistently refuted. As it stands, the BJP holds a significant majority in the state assembly, having secured 255 of the 403 seats in the last election.