Lost mental balance: UP minister jabs Akhilesh Yadav, mocks PDA plank ahead of polls

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of repeatedly changing the definition of PDA according to political convenience. He also said that the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief has lost his mental balance and hence is making false political assumptions.

Speaking in Chitrakoot, Rajbhar took a swipe at the SP's PDA plank — which stands for Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak (backward, Dalit and minority) — and mocked the slogan with his own interpretation. Referring to murder cases in several districts in which SP leaders were named, he said the PDA now stands for "Peet dega Ahir, Peet dega Alpsankhyak" (Ahir will beat, minority will beat).

Rajbhar also hit out at Akhilesh Yadav over his recent "chavanni" remark. At a recent event, Akhilesh had taken a jibe at former allies of the Samajwadi Party who switched sides over the last few years.

"Jaane kahan-kahan se aa gaye the log gathbandhan banane. Humne chavanni ka rupya bana diya tha, tab bhi humein chhod kar chale gaye woh," Akhilesh had said. (People came from all over the place to ally. We were the ones who raised their value, yet they still left us behind.)

Although Yadav did not name anyone, his remark was seen as a reference to Jayant Chaudhary's "chavanni" comment during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election campaign. At the time, while allied with the SP, Chaudhary had rejected BJP overtures, saying he was not a mere "chavanni" that could be easily flipped.

Rajbhar, however, came out in defence of his fellow NDA alliance partner. He said Akhilesh should not forget that the same "chavanni" had helped the Samajwadi Party increase its tally from 47 seats in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections to 120 in 2022.

Rajbhar also accused Akhilesh of betraying his alliance partners during the 2022 Assembly elections.

AKHILESH HAS 'LOST MENTAL BALANCE'

Sharpening his attack, Rajbhar said Akhilesh had "lost his mental balance" and was therefore making what he described as absurd comments about seat-sharing within the NDA.

His remarks came after Akhilesh recently commented on the NDA's seat-sharing process. In a post on X, the SP chief claimed that the BJP was considering 73 seats for the RLD, 39 for the SBSP, 31 for the Nishad Party and 19 for Apna Dal, on the advice of some election experts.

Akhilesh also claimed that the exercise would fail as people would completely reject the NDA alliance.

Responding to the remarks, Rajbhar advised Akhilesh to focus on his own political prospects.

"If you are dreaming of 27, prepare for the next birth. It won't happen in this birth," he said, taking a dig at the SP's electoral ambitions.

'SING VANDE MATARAM IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN INDIA'

Rajbhar also addressed the ongoing controversy over India's National Song, Vande Mataram. The BJP and the Congress have recently clashed over the rendition of the song.

Speaking on the matter, Rajbhar said, "If you want to live in India, you will have to sing Vande Mataram. Otherwise, go abroad."

Rajbhar also accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of disrespecting the Indian Constitution, saying that the country is governed by the Constitution.