UP CM favors his home turf over 2 seats in Varanasi in MLC polls: Akhilesh

The BJP’s performance has turned out to be a flop despite the way it misused power to win the elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said in Lucknow on Friday. | Photo credit: Nand Kumar

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of ensuring the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory in the Legislature Teacher constituency in Gorakhpur-Faizabad division at the cost of two Legislative Council seats in the Varanasi region. “Let Kashi drown, but our Gorakhpur business must not stop,” remarked a senior opposition leader.

Mr. Adityanath was a five-year MP from Gorakhpur and currently represents the Gorakhpur (Urban) constituency in the Assembly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in his second term as the Lok Sabha member from Varanasi.

According to the final count, announced on Thursday afternoon, of the 11 seats in the UP Legislative Council that went to polls on October 23, the BJP won six, while the SP increased its tally from the previous MLC polls by two.

“Money vs People”

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters after meeting party candidates, including the five winners, the SP chief said Mr Adityanath was busy “prioritizing and protecting his home” over his party’s prospects elsewhere. Referring to the geographical distribution of the 11 constituencies, the former CM said the BJP lost in 50 districts and cities.

“Legislative Council election results are just the beginning. BJP’s performance has been shown to be a flop despite the way it misused power to win elections. It has sent a message to the public. BJP won six seats by fraud while Samajwadi Party won on public mandate. BJP has financial muscle while we are contesting against it through the power of the masses.”

Claiming that women voted in large numbers against the ruling party’s candidates, Mr Yadav said the election results would strengthen democracy and his party’s movement “for the establishment of a government of social justice” and ensure justice for the PDA, meaning “Pichhde” (backward classes), Dalits and “Alpsankhyak” (minorities), communities.

Teacher complaints

The SP chief also attacked the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government in UP over the state of education and unemployment. “The government is destroying the education system and examination processes. It has closed 26,000 primary schools and restricted the employment opportunities of teachers. More than 20 exam papers have been leaked under this government,” Jadav said.

“All the female teachers voted against the BJP after seeing the government closing primary schools. Where will daughters go to study? The issues raised by the Samajwadi Party and the promises it made resonate with the teachers. If the Samajwadi government is formed, primary to post-graduate education will be free,” he said.

Published – 30 Oct 2026 20:48 IST