With just days remaining until the November 20 Uttar Pradesh Assembly by-elections, the political sparring over slogans has intensified. Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav recently criticised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s “batenge toh katenge” remark, calling it “the worst slogan in history.” In response, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya accused the SP of supporting “jihadis” to secure votes.

The issue has drawn comments from leaders across the political spectrum, including Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, who weighed in on the escalating rhetoric. Political analysts suggest that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is appealing to religious sentiments, the SP aims to shift the focus toward caste-based solidarity through its PDA (backward, Dalit, and minority) framework.

Maurya took to social media platform X, alleging that the SP’s true agenda was to appease Muslims and “support jihadis” for vote-bank politics. “SP’s politics of dividing society through fronts like ‘love jihad,’ ‘land jihad,’ and ‘vote jihad’ reveals Akhilesh Yadav’s so-called harmony claims,” he posted. Maurya questioned if this was the PDA that Yadav promoted, declaring, “SP’s true character and face have been exposed.”

Meanwhile, a poster outside the SP office has reignited the debate. Displayed on Saturday night, it reads, “Mathadhish will divide and cut… PDA will unite and win,” implying the SP’s commitment to uniting marginalised communities against division. This follows Mayawati’s own statement urging voters to align with the BSP, dismissing the SP-BJP slogan battle as a distraction from real issues.

The slogan originated when Adityanath introduced “batenge toh katenge” (if you divide, you will be cut off) during the Haryana elections, later endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the line “Ek hain toh safe hain” (if we are united, we are safe). Some attribute this messaging to the BJP’s recent success in Haryana.

In response, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav took to social media with the counter-slogan “judenge toh jeetenge” (if we unite, we will win), emphasising positive politics. “In the interest of society, the Chief Minister should rethink his negative outlook and consider changing his advisors,” Yadav wrote, urging Adityanath to adopt a more inclusive approach. He added, “A good leader nurtures positive thoughts and keeps both his sleeves and arms open.”

Yadav further commented on the role of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the by-elections, suggesting that its entry has unsettled both the BJP and SP, as both parties attempt to shift public focus with competing posters. Yadav stated, “Instead of divisive slogans, what is truly needed is a commitment to unity - if we join with the BSP, we will progress and remain safe.”

In recent days, the city has seen a surge in political hoardings and posters reinforcing these rival slogans. Notably, a hoarding appeared outside the SP office proclaiming “27 ke Sattadhish,” a reference to political power dynamics in the upcoming 2027 elections.

Adityanath’s slogan “bantoge to katoge” has also sparked responses from Yadav, including his slogan, “judenge toh jeetenge,” which has begun to appear on hoardings around the city.

As the election date draws closer, these symbolic slogans have become central to campaign strategies, capturing the intensity of the political discourse leading up to the by-elections.