Amajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference at the party office in Lucknow, Sunday, February 22, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday (February 22, 2026) claimed that corruption and misgovernance had intensified in Uttar Pradesh, while asserting that “as the suffering increases, the PDA will grow stronger”.
PDA is an acronym used by SP leaders to refer to backward (pichhde), dalit and minority (alpsankhyak) communities.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Mr Yadav questioned the BJP government’s demands for development and said, “We are not able to find development. Where is it? Pipelines are the pipelines of corruption.” Alleging irregularities in infrastructure projects, he claimed water tanks were bursting due to shoddy work and that corruption was visible on the ground.
Looking ahead to a planned visit to Japan later this month, Mr Yadav said: “I heard the Chief Minister is going to Japan, but he is not going to Kyoto. He should go there and see what has been done here and what he has failed to do in the last 10 years.”
After coming to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced that Varanasi would be transformed into a Kyoto-style city.
Referring to the BJP-led Centre’s ambitious projects, Mr Yadav said the cost of the proposed bullet train has escalated sharply over the original estimate.
Apparently alluding to the tussle between the two deputy ministers and the chief minister without naming anyone, Mr Yadav said: “Today, when (the chief minister) has flown out of India, we are making an offer – we will bring 100 MLAs and become the chief minister. Both (deputy chief ministers) have the same ambition to bring a week. CM Adityanath embarked on a four-day visit to Singapore on Sunday (February 22, 2026) and Japan.
Mr Yadav also accused the BJP of spreading hatred through social media by circulating “fake videos” and alleged that attempts had been made in the past to incite communal tension for electoral gains.
He further claimed that the security covers of opposition leaders are being withdrawn as part of a political strategy to “demoralize and insult” them.
On religious matters, Mr. Yadav criticized the state government over the recent FIR against Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaran and Saraswati. He claimed that Saraswati was prevented from taking a dip during the Magh Mela, adding that such actions were unprecedented in the country’s spiritual traditions.
An FIR against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundananda Brahmachari was lodged in Prayagraj on allegations of sexually abusing a minor and another person over the last one year, including during the Magh Mela.
The action was taken on Saturday (February 21, 2026) after a special judge of the POCSO court had earlier in the day ordered that the case be registered on a petition filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj and others.
Talking about technology and artificial intelligence (AI), Mr. Yadav said innovation and startups should focus on solving real problems of people rather than serving as slogans.
He accused the Uttar Pradesh government of rebranding industrial policies launched during the previous SP regime in the state, especially in Noida, and claimed that new investments were not visible on the ground.
Allegedly neglecting the environment, the former chief minister said the health of rivers like the Gomti was deteriorating due to industrial waste and sewage discharge. He alleged that river cleaning initiatives started during the SP government have been stopped.
“As the suffering of the people increases, our PDA movement will expand,” Mr Yadav said, adding that the SP would continue to strive to unite people to “protect democracy and the secular fabric of society”.
Published – 22 February 2026 19:02 IST
