Politics · India · 8 hrs ago
Akhilesh Yadav seeks to broaden SP’s support among upper-caste voters
Akhilesh Yadav is trying to win support from Brahmins and Baniyas in Uttar Pradesh for his Samajwadi Party, or SP.
His PDA message originally referred to backward classes, Dalits and minorities, and he has now expanded it to include these upper-caste communities.
Yadav says they face harassment under the BJP government, which runs the state.
The SP won five of 11 seats in recent Legislative Council polls, while the BJP won the other six.
Analysts say those results may reflect community discontent but do not guarantee gains in an Assembly election.
They say the SP needs specific policies, such as a proposed Brahmin Welfare Board, rather than rhetoric alone.
The BJP has urged its workers to set aside resentment and work together as it seeks to remain in power.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav is expanding the party’s PDA platform to include Brahmins and Baniyas in Uttar Pradesh.
He says these communities face harassment under the BJP government and that the PDA support base has grown.
Political analysts say the outreach may target the BJP’s core support but may not bring broader electoral gains without a concrete policy plan.
The SP won five of 11 Legislative Council seats, while the BJP won the remaining six.
On October 30, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged BJP workers to set aside disappointment and resentment and work to form a BJP government.
- Who
- Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, is seeking to broaden the party’s support.
- What
- He is extending the PDA platform to include Brahmins and Baniyas. Analysts say the party needs a concrete policy plan to turn the outreach into wider electoral gains.
- When
- Yadav addressed a press conference on October 30. The article was published on November 2, 2026.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, India; Yadav spoke at a press conference in Lucknow.
- Why
- The SP is seeking support among upper-caste voters and, analysts say, trying to fracture the BJP’s core base ahead of the Assembly election.
Samajwadi Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
Treatment of communities
Samajwadi Party
Yadav says the BJP has victimised, oppressed and humiliated communities, including Brahmins.
Bharatiya Janata Party
Shah urged BJP workers to set aside disappointment and resentment and praised development under Yogi Adityanath; the article does not give a direct BJP response to Yadav’s allegations.
Political support
Samajwadi Party
Yadav says Brahmins, business communities and Kayasthas have helped expand the PDA support base.
Bharatiya Janata Party
Shah called on BJP workers to work with dedication to form a BJP government.
The SP won five of the 11 Legislative Council seats, while the BJP won the other six.
Yadav said at a press conference in Lucknow that the SP’s PDA support base included Brahmin, business and Kayastha communities.
Shah addressed the BJP’s State executive meeting and urged party workers to set aside disappointment and resentment.
- SP Legislative Council seats
- 5 of 11
- BJP Legislative Council seats
- 6 of 11
- Press conference
- Lucknow, October 30
- PDA expansion
- Brahmins, Baniyas, business communities and Kayasthas
- BJP meeting
- State executive meeting addressed by Amit Shah on October 30
1 source
What people are saying
The BJP has victimised, oppressed, and humiliated every community, so all the oppressed have come together.
The PDA support base has now reached 95%, thanks to the Brahmin, business and Kayastha communities voting for us.
throw disappointment and resentment into the Gomti river
move beyond rhetoric and outline specific demands, such as a Brahmin Welfare Board