SP chief targets BJP over farmers’ issues and alleged Ambedkar statue vandalism; outlines plans to use AI and remote sensing in governance
Lucknow, September 2026: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday outlined his party’s strategy for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, saying the organisation would work to increase its vote count by 27,000 in every Assembly constituency, which he described as an equivalent reduction in the BJP’s vote share.
Speaking after the SP’s state executive meeting in Lucknow, Yadav said party workers would use technology, undertake door-to-door outreach and engage directly with voters to understand their concerns. The announcement marks an early effort by the SP to set an organisational target ahead of the 2027 state elections.
“Today was our state executive meeting. In this, we have decided that in the 2027 Assembly elections, we will work to increase 27,000 votes in every Assembly seat. That means we will reduce 27,000 votes of the BJP,” Yadav said.
He said the party’s campaign would focus on meeting people at their homes, listening to their concerns and discussing issues related to justice and dignity. Yadav also criticised the BJP-led state government over farmers’ concerns, alleged irregularities in land acquisition and what he described as shortcomings in governance.
Yadav Raises Farmers’ and Land Acquisition Issues
Yadav alleged that farmers in Uttar Pradesh were not receiving adequate prices for their crops. He also alleged that land acquired from farmers had not always been compensated according to what he described as the appropriate circle rate.
Referring specifically to Ayodhya, the SP chief alleged that major irregularities had taken place in land transactions and acquisition. These allegations were part of his broader criticism of the state government’s handling of agrarian and development-related issues.
He also expressed appreciation for the Muslim community, saying he was grateful for the patience and goodwill shown by members of the community amid the state’s political developments.
Ambedkar Statues Become Key Point of Attack
A significant part of Yadav’s address focused on alleged attacks on statues of Dr BR Ambedkar across Uttar Pradesh. He claimed that 151 Ambedkar statues had been damaged or vandalised across 72 districts during the period of BJP rule.
Yadav said the figures were based on cases documented by the SP and referred to data concerning police action. According to figures cited by him, 46 statue-vandalism cases were reported during the first term of the Yogi Adityanath government between 2017 and 2022, while 105 cases were recorded during its second term from 2022 onwards.
He further claimed that arrests had been made in only 14 of the 151 cases. In 45 cases, FIRs were registered against unidentified persons, while named FIRs were filed in eight cases. Yadav also claimed that no action had been taken in 84 cases.
These figures and allegations were presented by Yadav as part of his criticism of the state government and its handling of incidents involving Ambedkar statues. Independent reports noted that the figures cited were based on data presented by Yadav and the SP.
Attack on BJP Leadership and Allies
Yadav also criticised the BJP and its political allies, including taking jibes at Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and ally Om Prakash Rajbhar.
Referring to reported differences within the ruling alliance, Yadav claimed that Maurya had been reprimanded after making remarks about Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He also mocked Rajbhar over his reduced activity on social media, suggesting that the latter's account password may have been taken away.
Yadav defended the SP’s use of campaign chariots, or raths, saying the party’s political tradition was associated with seeking the blessings of former SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. He also accused the BJP of seeking constitutional changes, a claim the BJP has rejected.
AI and Remote Sensing in Proposed Governance Model
Looking beyond the electoral campaign, Yadav outlined aspects of his proposed governance approach if the SP returns to power in Uttar Pradesh.
He said emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and remote sensing, would be integrated into sectors such as agriculture and healthcare. Remote sensing, he said, could help in agricultural applications, while AI and related technologies could be expanded in the medical sector.
He also proposed using technology to investigate incidents involving overturned vehicles and cases where RDX was recovered. Yadav said AI and remote sensing could additionally be used as tools for crime prevention and investigation.
The SP chief's remarks came as political parties in Uttar Pradesh begin preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections. The SP is seeking to strengthen its organisational network and increase its engagement with voters ahead of the polls, while Yadav's latest announcement places a numerical target at the centre of the party's election strategy.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
