As the by-elections for 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh approach, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have intensified their verbal attacks, signaling an escalating political showdown. Phrases like "kutte ki puchh (dog's tail)," "mafia," and "naak ragadna (rubbing nose)" have surfaced in this exchange, marking a sharp rise in political rhetoric between the two leaders.
Yogi Adityanath, known for his aggressive campaigning style, has focused his attacks on the Samajwadi Party (SP) and its governance record. Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav, leveraging social media platforms like 'X' (formerly Twitter), has taken calculated yet increasingly sharp jabs at Yogi's leadership. While Yogi emphasises his Hindutva agenda and critiques the law-and-order situation under SP's rule, Akhilesh portrays the BJP Government as authoritarian, often accusing it of using police power to stifle dissent.
Akhilesh Yadav, traditionally more cautious in his attacks, has shifted to a more confrontational approach following SP's success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. SP secured 37 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, a significant gain, while the BJP's count dropped to 33 from 62. This victory has emboldened Akhilesh, fueling his direct confrontations with Yogi Adityanath.
The political landscape in Uttar Pradesh saw a dramatic shift with these results. SP's resurgence, after years of electoral setbacks, has positioned Akhilesh as a formidable challenger for the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections. His aggressive stance reflects the party's determination to build on this momentum.
Analysts predict that the verbal sparring between Yogi and Akhilesh will intensify as the 2027 assembly elections approach. Akhilesh has been rallying support through his PDA formula, aiming to consolidate Backward Classes, Dalits, and minorities into a solid voter base. Meanwhile, the BJP continues to rely on its core issues of Hindutva and nationalism, positioning Yogi as the state's face of this narrative.
This is not the first time the two leaders have clashed. During the 2022 UP assembly elections, their exchanges were rife with one-liners. Yogi had labelled SP's ideology as a combination of "Chola Samajwadi" and "Tamanchawadi" (gun-culture politics), while Akhilesh responded with his trademark sarcasm, ridiculing Yogi's governance.
With the upcoming by-elections being a matter of prestige for Yogi Adityanath, the stakes are high. Following the BJP's loss of ground in the Lok Sabha elections, winning these by-elections is seen as crucial for Yogi's political standing. His aggressive rhetoric mirrors his campaign style during the national elections, where he positioned SP as the main Opposition to the BJP's governance model.
On the other hand, Akhilesh Yadav's growing confidence is evident in his strategies to consolidate voter support, particularly as his party eyes a larger contest in 2027. Political analyst Manoj Bhadra notes that this kind of intense, personal verbal exchange is relatively new in UP's political landscape, signaling not just a fight for power but also control over the narrative that will appeal to voters.
