AMETHI: Posters and hoardings targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have appeared at several locations in Amethi, sparking a political row months before the 2027 Assembly elections.
The posters, displayed outside Amethi railway station and at various intersections, carry the slogan: “Aap ko kya chahiye? Akhilesh ka Lyari raj.” The phrase refers to Lyari, a locality in Karachi, Pakistan, once known for gang violence, and recently referenced in the Bollywood film Dhurandhar.
The hoardings, reportedly put up by a group calling itself “Youth Against Mafia”, juxtapose alleged incidents of violence and riots during Yadav’s tenure as chief minister with the current government’s crackdown on organised crime under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
They also feature the names and photographs of the organisation’s office-bearers, including its executive president, general secretary and Pratapgarh in-charge.
The Samajwadi Party condemned the development, describing it as politically motivated. District spokesperson and advocate Rajesh Mishra said the posters reflected the “frustration and desperation” of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He alleged that the BJP had resorted to such tactics after realising it might not return to power, adding that the public was aware of these “attempts to mislead”.
Meanwhile, Amethi police station in-charge Ravi Singh confirmed that the authorities had been alerted. A police team has been sent to the locations where the posters were found, and further action will follow after an investigation.
(With inputs from PTI)