Caste Census in 3 Months: Akhilesh’s Big Social Justice Pitch Ahead of UP Polls

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has sharpened his social-justice and anti-BJP pitch ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, combining a caste census promise with targeted outreach to the Lodhi community and attacks on the government.

Addressing a convention in Lucknow marking the 196th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Rani Avantibai Lodhi, Yadav said an SP government would conduct a caste census within three months of taking office if the Centre failed to undertake the exercise.

He argued that caste-wise data was necessary to ensure people received rights, respect and representation according to their population. The proposal places demographic representation at the centre of the SP's social-justice agenda.

Yadav also expanded the party's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) framework, saying it would encompass all sections of society. He called for communities to unite around social justice and backed the formation of a PDA government, seeking to build a broad coalition of backward classes, Dalits and minorities in Uttar Pradesh.

The SP chief made an outreach pitch to the Lodhi community, promising greater respect and representation. He said the community's political consolidation could help defeat the BJP.

Yadav also promised recognition for Rani Avantibai Lodhi. An SP government, he said, would declare August 16 a public holiday, organise programmes on her birth anniversary and install her statue, featuring a golden sword, at Lucknow's Gomti Riverfront.

His BJP criticism focused on student concerns and the ruling party's credibility. Referring to Delhi student protests over alleged paper leaks, he claimed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was removed to “save the prime minister”.

On Ayodhya, Yadav referred to alleged theft of offerings at the Ram temple and accused those speaking of “Ram Rajya” of having “looted Ram's wealth”. The remarks sought to challenge the BJP on its Ayodhya narrative.

Yadav said the SP had come close to power in 2022 and declared the BJP's defeat in 2027 certain, framing the election as a contest over social justice, representation, youth concerns, accountability and change.