Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav has sharply criticized Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's recent statement regarding a reduction of approximately four crore voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Yadav linked CM Yogi's claim to the BJP's potential electoral defeat, asserting that 85-90 percent of the voters removed from the list belonged to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), implying that BJP voters were responsible for the irregularities.
CM Yogi's Initial Claim on Voter List Reduction
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing BJP workers at a recent event, stated that the. Number of voters in the state had decreased by about four crore after the SIR. He explained that every person above 18 years of age should be on the voter list, which would ideally mean 16 crore voters in Uttar Pradesh. However, after the SIR, only 12 crore names were recorded, indicating a discrepancy of four crore. CM Yogi also mentioned that the voter list of January 2025 had 15 crore 44 lakh names, but this number has now decreased. He urged his party workers to ensure that eligible voters are added to the list at. Every booth, as he believed 85 to 90 percent of this four-crore difference comprised BJP voters.
Akhilesh Yadav's Sharp Retort
Responding to CM Yogi's statement, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav remarked that the Chief Minister himself was admitting that 85-90 percent of the four crore voters not included in the voter list during the SIR were BJP voters. Yadav interpreted this in two ways: firstly, that the vigilance of the PDA (Pichde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) 'prahari' (guards) prevented the BJP from manipulating the list as they wished. Secondly, he concluded that since 85-90% of the voters removed due to lack of evidence were BJP supporters, it implied that BJP voters were primarily involved in the irregularities.
The 'PDA Prahari' Factor
Akhilesh Yadav further emphasized the role of the 'PDA prahari'. He stated that it was due to the alertness and active participation of the PDA guards that no arbitrary actions or irregularities could be carried out in the voter list. According to him, this vigilance and unity of the PDA prevented the BJP from successfully including or removing voters as per their convenience, thereby thwarting their electoral strategy. This highlights the ground-level awareness and activeness of PDA workers.
Mathematical Projection of BJP's Loss
Using CM Yogi's own figures, the SP chief presented a mathematical conclusion for the BJP's potential losses. He calculated that if even a conservative 85% of the four crore removed voters were BJP supporters, it would mean a reduction of 3 crore 40 lakh (34,000,000) BJP voters. Dividing this figure by Uttar Pradesh's 403 assembly constituencies, he projected a loss of approximately 84,000 votes per seat for the BJP. Akhilesh Yadav stressed that these were voters who weren't legitimate and whose removal from the list was justified.
Implications for 2027 Assembly Elections
Based on this mathematical analysis, Akhilesh Yadav predicted that the BJP would be 'out of the race' in the upcoming 2027 assembly elections. He asserted that the loss of 3 crore 40 lakh. Votes would prove to be an insurmountable challenge for the BJP. Yadav claimed that with this arithmetic of BJP's defeat and PDA's victory, coupled with the aspirations and unity of PDA to form its own. Government, there would be no candidates or aspirants seeking tickets from the BJP, its direct allies, or other parties supporting it from the backdoor. This statement appears to be an attempt to demoralize the BJP and energize PDA workers.
Allegations Against Election Commission
Akhilesh Yadav also raised questions about the role of the Election Commission (EC). He alleged that the EC extended the deadline for submitting SIR forms by. 14 days specifically to benefit the ruling party (BJP) due to their losses. According to him, this move was intended to provide the BJP with an opportunity to re-enroll their 'lost' voters. However, he warned that PDA prahari would now work with double vigilance and wouldn't allow any irregularities, while yadav declared that every PDA prahari would tell EC officials, 'Tu jahan-jahan chalega mera saaya saath hoga' (Wherever you go, my shadow will follow), symbolizing their strict oversight.
Renewed Vigilance by PDA
Akhilesh Yadav made it clear that despite the extension of time. By the Election Commission, PDA workers would operate with even greater caution. Their objective is to ensure that no illegal names are included in the voter list and no eligible voter is left out. This statement highlights the significance of the voter list in the upcoming elections and the political contention surrounding it. The SP chief also indicated that the unity and ground-level activism of the PDA would pose a significant. Challenge to the BJP, and they wouldn't allow any rigging in the electoral process at any cost.
