Uttar Pradesh Minister Anil Rajbhar on Wednesday criticised Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks against the BJP government’s development claims, accusing the opposition party of avoiding public scrutiny and resorting to political theatrics.
Responding to Yadav’s criticism, Rajbhar alleged that SP leaders were reluctant to engage directly with voters because they feared public dissatisfaction with their politics.
He accused the party of being opposed to development and claimed its leadership had failed to represent the interests of farmers, young people, students and women.
Rajbhar further asserted that voters would reject the Samajwadi Party if its leaders approached them ahead of the upcoming elections.
Akhilesh Yadav Questions Development Claims in Varanasi
The minister’s remarks followed a criticism of the BJP government by Akhilesh Yadav over waterlogging in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency.
The SP chief shared a video showing a waterlogged road and questioned the BJP’s claims of world-class infrastructure development in the city.
In a post on X, Yadav mocked the government’s earlier promise to develop Varanasi along the lines of Kyoto, Japan, suggesting that the city’s transformation had remained limited to promotional imagery.
Yogi Adityanath Also Targets SP
Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had criticised the Samajwadi Party, accusing its politics of being associated with land-grabbing and lawlessness.
Contrasting the BJP government's record with that of the previous SP administration, Adityanath said his party stood for development, investment and progress. He also accused the opposition of pursuing divisive and anti-development politics.
The exchange reflects the continuing political confrontation between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party over governance, development and their respective records in Uttar Pradesh.
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