Archive · 1 Sep 2026
AI Videos Escalate BJP–SP Feud Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Election
Political parties in Uttar Pradesh are arguing through AI-made videos.
A BJP-aligned video attacked Akhilesh Yadav and called him corrupt.
Akhilesh Yadav responded by showing another video aimed at Yogi Adityanath.
His video showed people in saffron clothes taking money from a temple box.
It also showed Adityanath smoking a chillum.
The BJP said this insulted Hindu saints and religious beliefs.
The Samajwadi Party repeated the image in another post.
Both sides say the other side started the video attacks, and the dispute may affect the 2027 state election.
Akhilesh Yadav released an AI video targeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The video depicted saffron-robed men taking money from a temple donation box and showed Adityanath smoking a chillum.
The video was presented as a response to a BJP-aligned video accusing Akhilesh Yadav of corruption.
The Uttar Pradesh BJP accused the Samajwadi Party of insulting Hindu saints, Sanatan beliefs and devotees.
The SP later reposted the depiction of Adityanath, while BJP leaders warned voters could respond in the 2027 election.
- Who
- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party.
- What
- A political dispute intensified over AI-generated videos attacking Akhilesh Yadav and portraying Yogi Adityanath smoking a chillum.
- When
- The videos and public reactions were reported on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh election.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, with references to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
- Why
- Akhilesh Yadav said his video was a response to a BJP-aligned video that accused him of corruption.
Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav
Bharatiya Janata Party
Who started the video exchange?
Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav
Akhilesh Yadav said the video he showed was a response to a BJP-aligned video targeting him and said the SP would respond to BJP songs with songs.
Bharatiya Janata Party
The BJP said the SP's response crossed a line by insulting saints, Sanatan beliefs and the faith of Hindu devotees.
Portrayal of Yogi Adityanath
Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav
The SP used an AI video showing Adityanath smoking a chillum and repeated the image in a follow-up post criticizing Uttar Pradesh.
Bharatiya Janata Party
BJP leaders said Adityanath is a saint as well as chief minister and argued that portraying him this way revealed the SP's attitude toward him.
Political consequences
Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav
Akhilesh Yadav's response framed the exchange as a reaction to attacks against him.
Bharatiya Janata Party
BJP leaders said voters in Uttar Pradesh would answer the SP in the 2027 election.
- Main figures
- Akhilesh Yadav and Yogi Adityanath
- Political parties
- Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party
- Trigger
- A BJP-aligned video accused Akhilesh Yadav of corruption.
- Response video
- A video shown by Akhilesh Yadav depicted saffron-robed men taking money from a temple donation box and portrayed Adityanath smoking a chillum.
- BJP allegation
- The Uttar Pradesh BJP said the video insulted Hindu saints, Sanatan beliefs and Hindu devotees.
- Election context
- The dispute comes ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh election.