Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament Awadhesh Prasad on Thursday, 12 November 2026, accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of making politically motivated remarks driven by nervousness over the surging popularity of the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) bloc and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, with the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections drawing closer. Prasad made the remarks in Ayodhya, framing Adityanath's recent statements as signs of political anxiety rather than strength.

The Exchange That Sparked the Row

The war of words erupted after Akhilesh Yadav claimed that 'people of Uttarakhand in Uttar Pradesh are infiltrators.' Chief Minister Adityanath, without naming anyone directly, responded sharply in a public address: 'If it weren't for a daughter from Uttarakhand, you would be grazing buffaloes somewhere in Saifai.'

Adityanath further alleged that those making such remarks were welcoming infiltrators from Pakistan and Bangladesh while refusing to accept people from Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. The exchange quickly escalated into a broader political confrontation ahead of the high-stakes state elections.

SP's Counterattack: 'BJP Is Nervous About PDA'

Responding to Adityanath's remarks, Prasad argued that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was rattled by the SP's expanding coalition. 'They (BJP) are very nervous about PDA, aren't they? Our (Uttar Pradesh) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is nervous about the growing popularity of PDA and Akhilesh Yadav. And that is why he is giving statements out of nervousness. This statement of his is made out of nervousness,' Prasad said.

Prasad claimed that voters across the state now viewed the SP, the PDA bloc, and the INDIA Alliance under Akhilesh Yadav's leadership as the only credible force capable of dislodging the BJP. 'The people of Uttar Pradesh have firmly resolved that if any party has the strength to remove the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it is solely the Samajwadi Party, PDA, the INDIA Alliance, and its leader Akhilesh Yadav. They have resolved this; it has been decided,' he said.

Governance Failures and the Ram Narrative

Prasad also launched a broader attack on the BJP government's record, alleging that a promise of two crore jobs had gone unfulfilled, farmers had received no meaningful relief, and journalists were facing attacks. 'They (BJP) promised two crore jobs; there have been none. The farmers received nothing. Journalists are getting attacked. They (BJP) are trying to hide all these matters,' he charged.

Pushing back on the BJP's association with religious identity, Prasad asserted that the SP and its chief were equally devoted to Lord Ram. 'We (Samajwadi Party) are devoted to Lord Ram; SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is also dedicated to Lord Ram. BJP is only a facade,' he said. Notably, the remarks came from Ayodhya itself — the site of the Ram temple — amplifying their symbolic weight.

Ayodhya Development and J&K Security Concerns

Prasad also raised concerns about the state of infrastructure in Ayodhya, alleging that roads in the city remained in poor condition and several temples were dilapidated, despite the extensive national attention the temple town has received in recent years.

Separately, commenting on a reported attack on security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, Prasad argued that the Union government should have been better prepared. He noted that Akhilesh Yadav had earlier offered the SP's full support to the Centre in counter-terrorism efforts. 'Terrorism should be erased from its very roots. But I feel that the Union government has failed in its duty,' he added.

2027 Outlook: SP Confident, BJP Alliance Meetings in Focus

Prasad predicted a sharp reversal for the BJP in 2027, asserting that the party might win fewer than 50 seats — a dramatic fall from its current position. 'It will show in 2027 that the public has outgrown the BJP. If they even receive 50 seats, it will be a big surprise. Akhilesh Yadav will win with a majority and form the government in Uttar Pradesh,' he said.

On pre-election political meetings being held by rival parties, Prasad suggested voters were no longer swayed by backroom manoeuvring. 'Whatever meetings they (BJP) hold, the public knows very well who they are meeting for and who they are meeting to help win; the public knows. Now, the public is no longer under any illusion,' he said. With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections now firmly in view, the PDA versus BJP framing is set to define the state's political discourse in the months ahead.