Muslim clerics slam Akhilesh over madrasa promises, demand Muslim CM face for UP 2027
Synopsis
Muslim clerical leaders have publicly broken with Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of using madrasa promises as electoral cover while marginalising Muslims within the SP. Their demand — name a Muslim Chief Ministerial face or the promises mean nothing — is an early and uncomfortable signal for a party that has long taken the Muslim vote for granted ahead of UP 2027.
Key Takeaways
Muslim clerics in Lucknow on 29 September publicly criticised SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over madrasa-related election promises.
All India Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi accused Akhilesh of 'doing politics in the name of madrasas' while 'insulting Muslims.' All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi said the Muslim community is 'very frustrated' with the SP.
Both leaders demanded the SP name a Muslim Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections as a condition for credibility.
Akhilesh Yadav had on 28 September promised to clear pending madrasa teacher salaries, implement the Old Pension Scheme , and upgrade Shiksha Mitra status.
Muslim clerics in Lucknow on Tuesday, 29 September sharply criticised Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his pre-election promises on madrasa teachers' salaries, insisting the pledges would only be credible if the SP named a Muslim as its Chief Ministerial candidate ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The rebuke came from two prominent national Muslim bodies and marks a rare public break between the SP and a constituency it has long counted as a core vote bank.
What Akhilesh Promised
On Monday, 28 September, Akhilesh Yadav unveiled a slate of pre-poll commitments targeting multiple communities. These included implementing the Old Pension Scheme, upgrading the status of Shiksha Mitras by granting them facilities on par with regular teachers, resolving issues concerning Sanskrit schools, and clearing long-pending salary arrears for teachers associated with modern madrasas. The announcements were widely seen as an early campaign salvo ahead of the 2027 polls.
What Cleric Leaders Said
All India Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi accused the SP chief of exploiting madrasas for electoral gain while simultaneously sidelining Muslims within the party. 'You are pushing Muslims out of gatherings, insulting Muslims, removing them from their seats and seating others in their place, defaming maulanas, and refusing to give Muslims their share,' Rashidi said. He went further, issuing a direct challenge: 'Akhilesh Yadav wants to do politics in the name of madrasas. Do not do politics in the name of madrasas. A slogan and a point have been put before you that this time, make a Muslim the Chief Minister. Name a Muslim for the post of Chief Minister. Then we will understand that you are a well-wisher of Muslims. Do not do politics in the name of madrasas.'
All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi echoed the sentiment, stating that the community is 'very frustrated' with the SP. 'Akhilesh Yadav is living in an illusion that all the Muslims support him and that the SP will form a government in the state in 2027. However, the ground reality is that the Muslim community is very frustrated with the SP,' Razvi said.
Why the Criticism Matters
The SP has historically relied on a Muslim-Yadav coalition as its electoral backbone in Uttar Pradesh. Public dissent from national clerical bodies — however early in the campaign cycle — signals potential erosion of that alliance. Notably, the criticism does not come from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its allies, but from within a community the SP has positioned itself as the primary champion of. This adds pressure on the SP to respond substantively rather than dismiss the remarks as opposition-driven.
The Road to 2027
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are not due until 2027, but parties across the spectrum have already begun intensifying outreach. The SP has recently ramped up campaign activities and public events. How Akhilesh Yadav responds to these demands — whether by naming a Muslim face for a senior role or doubling down on his existing platform — is likely to shape Muslim community sentiment in the crucial months ahead.
Point of View
But that is precisely its power: it forces the SP to either make an undeliverable commitment or acknowledge the limits of its inclusion. What mainstream coverage underplays is that this dissent, voiced before the campaign has even formally begun, gives the BJP a ready-made narrative about SP's performative minority politics. Akhilesh Yadav's silence or deflection in the coming days will be as telling as any formal response.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Muslim clerics criticising Akhilesh Yadav over madrasa promises?
Muslim clerical leaders argue that Akhilesh Yadav's promises on madrasa teachers' salaries are electoral posturing rather than genuine commitment. They contend that the SP marginalises Muslims within the party while using Muslim causes as campaign talking points, and say the promises will only be credible if the SP names a Muslim as its Chief Ministerial candidate for 2027.
What did Akhilesh Yadav promise regarding madrasas?
On 28 September, Akhilesh Yadav promised to clear long-pending salary arrears for teachers associated with modern madrasas as part of a broader pre-election announcement that also included implementing the Old Pension Scheme and improving the status of Shiksha Mitras.
Who is Maulana Sajid Rashidi and what did he say?
Maulana Sajid Rashidi is the President of the All India Imam Association. He accused Akhilesh Yadav of exploiting madrasas for political gain while 'insulting Muslims' and demanded that the SP name a Muslim as Chief Ministerial face for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections as a test of sincerity.
What did Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi say about the SP?
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, President of the All India Muslim Jamaat, said Akhilesh Yadav is 'living in an illusion' that all Muslims support him. He stated that the ground reality is that the Muslim community is 'very frustrated' with the Samajwadi Party.
How significant is this dissent for the SP ahead of UP 2027?
The SP has historically depended on a Muslim-Yadav coalition as its core electoral base in Uttar Pradesh. Public criticism from national clerical organisations — well before the 2027 campaign formally begins — signals potential cracks in that alliance and could complicate the party's minority outreach strategy.
