'Those With BJP Won't Be...': Akhilesh Yadav When Asked If Mayawati Will Be Invited To Join I.N.D.I.A Bloc

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav stated that parties affiliated with the BJP will not be considered for the I.N.D.I.A alliance, maintaining a significant distance from them.

File photo of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday (September 25) launched a scathing attack on the BJP and commented on the possible inclusion of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati in the I.N.D.I.A bloc. He also addressed concerns regarding law and order in the state. SP chief is on a visit to Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking about alliances, Akhilesh Yadav asserted, "Those with the BJP won't be brought into the I.N.D.I.A alliance. Distance will be maintained from those who are with the BJP," he can be heard saying in a video posted by news agency ANI.

VIDEO | "Those with the BJP won't be brought (to INDIA alliance). Distance will be maintained from those who are with the BJP," says Samajwadi Party chief @yadavakhilesh on whether BSP's Mayawati would be approached to join the INDIA alliance. pic.twitter.com/H7FkMMVgW3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2023

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also expressed his dissatisfaction with the Congress and BSP leadership. He took a dig at the Congress's preparation to contest 80 seats in the state and hinted at a potential alliance with the BSP, stating, "Congress deserves to decide how many seats they want to contest on, but when it comes to the INDIA alliance, the decision will be taken by the Congress's national president and top leaders. Such matters should not be discussed in this manner."

Akhilesh Yadav further addressed the issue of law and order, highlighting concerns about the state's security situation. He remarked, "When the Congress government is being affectionate towards terrorists, instead of taking action against them, and is giving a free hand to criminals, then how will there be a fear of the law?" 

Regarding the BSP chief, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav suggested that she may not be a part of the INDIA alliance, stating, "Who will invest in a state where there is rampant corruption and where incidents of beheading take place openly."

On Sunday, amid outrage over BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's "unparliamentary and communal" remarks in Parliament against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali, Yadav expressed solidarity with the latter. He wishes Danish Ali justice, adding that "he is also a member of the Samajwadi Party" because the SP and the BSP ran as allies in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Akhilesh told reporters at the SP state headquarters in Lucknow, "People are not only identified by their faces, but also by their words. Such views are held by more than one BJP leader. Throughout history, there have been numerous instances of BJP leaders using 'unparliamentary' language. Parliament should place strict limitations on them," news agency ANI reported. 

Opposition leaders condemned BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's communal remarks against BSP leader Danish Ali in Lok Sabha on Thursday and demanded strict action against him on Friday. Bidhuri's communally insensitive remarks during the Lok Sabha debate on the Chandrayan-3 Mission have been removed from the record.