Akhilesh Yadav reaches out to Brahmins, says Samajwadi's 'PDA' includes Pandits

Published 5 August 2026 · local

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday reached out to the Brahmin community, saying the party's 'PDA' formulation includes Pandits. He also accused the BJP

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday reached out to the Brahmin community, saying the party's 'PDA' formulation includes Pandits. He also accused the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of targeting opposition workers, Brahmins and religious leaders, including a Shankaracharya. Addressing a Brahmin Sammelan organised at the SP state headquarters on the birth anniversary of late socialist leader Janeshwar Mishra, Yadav said the state government had denied permission to hold the event at its proposed venue, Janeshwar Mishra Park in Gomti Nagar. He said this forced the party to shift the programme to its office premises. Read Full Story 'People keep talking about PDA and inventing new definitions of it.

Ever since they lost to PDA, they have been trying to redefine it. But they have forgotten that the 'PD' in PDA also stands for Pandit. The more they inflict pain (peeda), the stronger PDA will become,' Yadav said. PDA is a term coined by Yadav during the 2022 Assembly elections for Picchda (backwards), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities). Recalling Mishra's contribution to the socialist movement, Yadav described him as 'Chhote Lohia' and said the park named after him in Lucknow reflected his stature. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also accused the BJP government of persecuting opposition workers and claimed that several incidents involving SP members had been covered up.

"They were already targeting our workers and us. Now they have also started targeting the Brahmin community. They are after the 'P' of PDA as well," he alleged. Without naming anyone, Yadav also criticised the functioning of the state's health department, saying it had been 'completely ruined'. He further accused the government of insulting religious institutions and alleged that a Shankaracharya had been prevented from taking a holy dip during the Kumbh congregation. "If there is any example in history where a government stopped a Shankaracharya from taking a holy dip, show us one. The Shankaracharya had to stage a protest, and the police misbehaved with his disciples.

A false POCSO case was also filed to intimidate him, but he did not bow down," Yadav claimed. Yadav was referring to Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, who made headlines over his confrontation with the organisers of the Magh Mela in Prayagraj, accusing them of preventing him from taking a bath on Mauni Amavasya. In his address, Yadav linked this allegation with his wider charge that the government was targeting opposition workers, Brahmins and religious figures. Ends