Mayawati flags UP power cuts amid heatwave, urges Yogi govt to act
Synopsis
With Uttar Pradesh baking in record heat and Banda district topping the state's temperature charts, BSP chief Mayawati has publicly called out the Yogi government over relentless power cuts hitting the poor, farmers, and the middle class — and demanded new power plants, not just quick fixes.
Key Takeaways
BSP chief Mayawati on 22 May posted on X flagging widespread power outages across Uttar Pradesh during a severe heatwave.
She said the poor, middle class, farmers, and small traders are bearing the brunt of irregular electricity supply.
Banda district in Bundelkhand has been recorded as the hottest area in the state this season.
A three-day heatwave alert has been issued for Uttar Pradesh .
Mayawati urged the Yogi Adityanath government to take immediate steps and invest in new power plants for long-term relief.
The state Health Department is running awareness campaigns on heat precautions, though specific power-supply remedies remain unannounced.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday, 22 May raised alarm over rampant power outages across the state during a severe heatwave, warning that the situation has made daily life unbearable for crores of residents. Her remarks, posted on social media platform X, came as multiple districts in Uttar Pradesh logged record-breaking temperatures this season.
What Mayawati Said
In her post, Mayawati described the electricity crisis as a widespread failure affecting the poor, middle class, farmers, small traders, and other working sections of society. She said that in a densely-populated state like Uttar Pradesh, complaints of insufficient power supply and unscheduled outages have become routine during peak summer months.
The BSP chief noted that continuous power cuts in both villages and cities have fuelled public anger and resentment, with the issue drawing sustained media attention. She appealed directly to the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led state government to take immediate corrective steps, keeping in mind the hardship being endured by citizens during the peak summer season.
Long-Term Infrastructure Fix Demanded
Beyond immediate relief, Mayawati stressed the need for structural reforms to prevent recurring crises. She urged the state government to invest in new power plants and strengthen electricity infrastructure so that such disruptions do not repeat year after year. She argued that a robust power supply system would serve the larger public interest and provide lasting relief to people struggling with both heat and outages.
The Heatwave Context
Her intervention comes as Uttar Pradesh grapples with one of its most punishing summers in recent memory. Banda district in the Bundelkhand region has emerged as the hottest area in the state, with temperatures continuing to soar. Authorities have issued a three-day heatwave alert for the state. Residents across urban and rural areas alike have reported a sharp rise in unscheduled power cuts, coinciding with peak cooling demand.
Government Response So Far
The state government has issued guidelines to help citizens cope with the extreme heat. The Health Department has been running awareness campaigns on heat-related precautions, and citizens are being advised to avoid stepping out in direct sunlight unless absolutely necessary. However, specific measures to address the power supply shortfall have not been publicly detailed as yet.
With temperatures showing no sign of easing, pressure on the Yogi government to deliver tangible relief on the electricity front is likely to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
Felt by every voter regardless of caste or class, and the Yogi government's silence on a supply-side fix is a political opening she is exploiting. Yet the structural problem she identifies — chronic underinvestment in generation capacity — predates this administration and has persisted across multiple state governments, including BSP tenures. The real question is whether this remains a rhetorical volley or forces a measurable policy response; UP's electricity infrastructure gap has survived decades of political pressure without resolution. Voters in Bundelkhand, already among the state's most economically stressed, will be watching whether the call for new power plants translates into anything beyond a press-cycle moment.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Mayawati criticising the UP government over power cuts?
Mayawati has criticised the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government for failing to ensure adequate electricity supply during a severe heatwave, saying frequent outages are causing immense hardship to crores of residents including the poor, farmers, and the middle class. She made the remarks in a post on social media platform X on 22 May.
Which part of Uttar Pradesh is facing the worst heat this season?
Banda district in the Bundelkhand region has been recorded as the hottest area in Uttar Pradesh this season. Authorities have also issued a three-day heatwave alert for the state as temperatures continue to rise.
What has Mayawati demanded from the Uttar Pradesh government?
She has demanded immediate steps to restore proper electricity supply and, in the longer term, investment in new power plants and stronger electricity infrastructure to prevent recurring outages during summer months.
What is the Uttar Pradesh government doing about the heatwave?
The state government has issued guidelines to help citizens cope with extreme heat, and the Health Department is running awareness campaigns on precautions. Residents are being advised to avoid stepping out in direct sunlight unless necessary. Specific measures to address the power supply shortfall have not been publicly detailed.
How does this fit into the broader political context in Uttar Pradesh?
The power-cut issue gives opposition parties, including the BSP, a platform to challenge the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of future electoral cycles. Electricity supply during summer has historically been a flashpoint in UP politics, with successive governments — including BSP administrations — struggling to resolve chronic generation and distribution deficits.
