Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 26 May launched a sharp attack on the Opposition, accusing it of fabricating a narrative around an electricity crisis in the state, while contrasting current power supply conditions with what he described as the dismal record of the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government. The remarks were made at a foundation stone laying ceremony in Lucknow for welfare projects worth ₹413 crore undertaken by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.

The SP-era Power Jibe

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Yogi took direct aim at the Opposition's criticism over power shortages, invoking a vivid image from the SP's tenure. 'Who is raising fingers on the energy crisis? The Opposition is trying to create this narrative. It is a fact that during the era of the Samajwadi Party, people used to hang their clothes to dry on the very power lines meant to carry electricity. Back then, when there was no electricity supply, what exactly were these people doing?' he said.

He went on to allege that under the previous government, power supply was rotated unevenly across districts — with some areas receiving electricity only at night one week, and a different district the following week. 'Sometimes during the day, sometimes at night,' he stated, describing the arrangement as chaotic and unfair.

BJP Government's Defence of Current Supply

Contrasting that period with the present, CM Yogi asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration was working to ensure uninterrupted power supply and resolve technical disruptions swiftly. 'We are ensuring a full and consistent power supply. Currently, if a shutdown occurs at the power station itself or if there is a nationwide power shortage, the department must be given the opportunity to address the issue,' he said, adding that he had personally chaired review meetings on the matter.

His remarks came in direct response to allegations by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav over repeated power cuts in several parts of the state. Separately, Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma had recently claimed that the state had achieved its highest-ever electricity supply, though this figure was not independently verified at the time of the event.

Civic Duty and Shared Responsibility

The Chief Minister also appealed to citizens to cooperate with the Power Corporation during the ongoing challenges. 'The responsibility to tackle this crisis does not rest solely with the Power Corporation; it is the duty of every citizen to stand in solidarity with the Corporation during these times and extend their cooperation. This constitutes our civic duty as well,' he said. He added that 'mere mutual criticism and counter-accusations will not get the job done.'

Flower Pot Anecdote Draws Laughs

In a lighter aside, CM Yogi urged citizens to protect public property, recounting an incident captured on CCTV in which the owner of a car reportedly worth ₹2.5 crore was allegedly caught stealing a flower pot valued at just ₹45 from a public space. 'Had they simply spent that ₹45 to buy a new pot for their home, they would have preserved their dignity, and the city would have looked beautiful as well,' he remarked, drawing laughter from the audience. He jokingly added that the thought had crossed his mind to display the person's photograph at the city square.

Political Context

The exchange reflects a broader war of words between the ruling BJP and the SP ahead of upcoming local body elections in Uttar Pradesh, with power supply emerging as a key flashpoint. Critics argue that while the government points to record supply figures, ground-level complaints of outages — particularly in rural and peri-urban areas — persist. The Centre's push to eliminate load-shedding in all states adds a national dimension to what is increasingly a state-level political battle.