Akhilesh Yadav predicts BJP defeat, cites law-and-order and temple donation controversy in UP
· India · Hindustan Times, Times of India
Uttar Pradesh is slated for assembly polls early next year alongside Punjab, Manipur, Goa, and Uttarakhand. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated the electorate is set to vote out the BJP government and usher in a new political reality. He targeted the Yogi Adityanath-led government, rejecting the notion that frequent police encounters signify swift justice. Yadav alleged the 'bulldozer policy' disproportionately targeted marginalised sections and claimed crime against Dalits, women, and minorities has increased. He also accused the BJP of misappropriating donations worth ₹5 crore to ₹7.5 crore from the Ram temple, stating the issue will be a major poll plank. According to Akhilesh, the Congress has sought over 180 seats for the upcoming alliance. The Supreme Court's intervention on the temple donations case remains pending from the article.
Why it matters
The outcome will determine whether the BJP retains power in India's most populous state or faces a shift in political control ahead of the 2029 general elections, directly affecting the state's 240 million residents and national policy direction.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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