Sonbhadra/ Mirzapur (UP), Sep 13 (PTI) Union minister and Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel and her NDA ally, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, on Sunday stepped up their criticisms of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘PDA’ strategy, alleging that the opposition party has betrayed marginalised sections of society and failed to work for their welfare.
PDA is a social slogan coined by Akhilesh Yadav to unite ‘pichhda, dalits and alpsankhyak’ (backwards, Dalits and minorities).
The remarks come as political parties gear up for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2027.
Addressing a district-level workers’ conference in Sonbhadra, Patel said that merely invoking the term ‘PDA’ would not ensure the welfare of backward, Dalit and deprived sections, asserting that her party has consistently worked for social justice.
Anupriya further said that Apna Dal (S) would seek to contest the maximum possible number of seats, while asserting that a final decision would be taken through mutual understanding among NDA partners.
“Merely taking the name of PDA will not bring about the welfare of backward, Dalit and deprived sections. Apna Dal (S) has worked on issues concerning social justice,” she said.
Patel said her party raised the demand for a caste census at a time when the government had not taken any decision on the issue.
She also highlighted the party’s role in securing reservation for Other Backwards Classes (OBCs) in the NEET examination, saying Apna Dal (S) had worked extensively on other issues related to social justice. When asked who would be the chief ministerial face for the UP elections, Patel said the BJP leadership will have the final say.
“Generally, the NDA does not announce a chief ministerial face before an election,” she said, while addressing a district-level workers’ conference here.
On the Ram temple trust, Patel said experienced people with administrative capabilities were needed to streamline the management and arrangements at the temple.
The Union minister said her party would take its work to the people and seek their support. Calling on party workers to remain united, Patel urged them to strengthen the organisation and serve the public interest.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also stepped up his attack on Yadav, claiming that the SP’s ‘PDA’ coalition politics was “fake” and that the opposition party was betraying backward classes and Dalits.
Addressing a three-day regional Vedic conference in Mirzapur, he said, “In 2027, people will give them such a reply that Samajwadi Party leaders will be seen in Saifai only (village of SP Yadav in Etawah district),” Maurya said.
Alleging that law and order, roads and development deteriorated during the Samajwadi Party government between 2012 and 2017, Maurya expressed confidence that the BJP would return to power for a third consecutive term with a huge majority in 2027.
Maurya also said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, efforts had been made to bring to light and enrich the knowledge contained in the Vedas.
“Previous governments focused more on madrasa education than on Vedic education,” he alleged. PTI COR ABN KSI KSI
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.