Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Akhilesh Replaces Mahant With Muslim Face Ahead Of Uttarakhand Polls
The Samajwadi Party has chosen Abdul Mateen Siddiqui to lead its Uttarakhand branch.
He is the first Muslim leader to hold that position in the state.
The party wants him to work in areas where many Muslim voters live.
These areas include parts of Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun and Nainital.
The party also wants him to help in nearby western Uttar Pradesh.
The previous leader, Shubham Giri, is a mahant and will now have a different role.
Giri says he asked to step aside so he could prepare to contest an election.
The changes come before Assembly elections expected in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh in February 2027.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav appointed Abdul Mateen Siddiqui as Uttarakhand unit president.
Siddiqui replaces Shubham Giri, who has become the state unit’s co-incharge.
The party plans to target about 20 seats with significant Muslim populations.
Siddiqui will also work in Muslim-majority areas of western Uttar Pradesh.
The Samajwadi Party won no seats in Uttarakhand in the 2022 Assembly election.
- Who
- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav appointed Abdul Mateen Siddiqui and replaced Shubham Giri as Uttarakhand unit president.
- What
- The Samajwadi Party changed the leadership of its Uttarakhand unit and assigned Siddiqui an electoral mobilisation role.
- When
- Ahead of the Assembly elections expected in February 2027; the exact appointment date is not stated.
- Where
- The Samajwadi Party’s Uttarakhand unit, with planned work in Uttarakhand and bordering western Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The party said Siddiqui would focus on roughly 20 Uttarakhand seats where Muslim voters are electorally significant and help strengthen the party before the elections.
Party Strategy
Giri’s Explanation
Reason for the leadership change
Party Strategy
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said Giri’s performance as state chief was not satisfactory, while Siddiqui was chosen because Muslims are a major electorate in several districts.
Giri’s Explanation
Shubham Giri said he had worked to strengthen the party but faced opposition from some party members and requested release from the post to focus on contesting the Pirankaliyar seat.
Electoral focus
Party Strategy
The party wants Siddiqui to concentrate on Muslim-influenced seats in Uttarakhand and bordering western Uttar Pradesh to improve its prospects.
Giri’s Explanation
Giri’s stated priority is preparing for his own possible election contest from Pirankaliyar rather than continuing as the state working president.
Political positioning
Party Strategy
Giri’s earlier appointment was presented as a way to show respect for mahants, seers and saints and counter allegations of Muslim appeasement; Siddiqui’s appointment now emphasizes Muslim representation.
Giri’s Explanation
Giri’s continued appointment as co-incharge means the party has not removed him entirely and has given him another organisational role.
- New state president
- Abdul Mateen Siddiqui, 66, from Nainital district
- Previous state president
- Shubham Giri, 34, who is now state unit co-incharge
- Target seats
- About 20 Uttarakhand seats with significant Muslim populations
- Muslim share of Uttarakhand population
- About 14%
- 2022 Uttarakhand result
- BJP 47 seats, Congress 19, BSP 2, Samajwadi Party 0
- 2022 Uttar Pradesh result
- BJP 255 seats and Samajwadi Party 111 seats
- Key districts
- Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun and Nainital