LUCKNOW: Launching his party’s campaign for the crucial battle for Lucknow in 2027 from Dadri in Noida through the “Samajwadi Samanta Bhaichara Rally”, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, during his 55-minute speech, made a fervent pitch woven around farmers, women, and unemployment on Sunday.
While promising Rs 40,000 per month to women, the SP chief made a commitment to farmers by offering them market-rate compensation for land acquisition in a bid to lure nearly three crore farmers across the western districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Besides looking to bridge the Hindu-Muslim divide, Akhilesh tried to consolidate Gujjar and Muslim voters in the region and therefore chose the Mihirbhoj Degree College premises for the rally.
Moreover, the party ensured that leaders from different communities -Kairana MP Iqra Hasan (Muslim), Muzaffarnagar MP Harendra Malik (Jat), Rajya Sabha MP Ramjilal Suman (Dalit), Sardhana MLA Atul Pradhan (Gurjar), and Leader of the Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey (Brahmin) - addressed the rally and appealed to their respective communities to support the SP and make Yadav the chief minister in 2027.
Experts consider the site for his rally a strategic outreach to connect with sections of the Gujjar community, who regard Mihir Bhoj as a significant figure.
Despite the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), led by Jayant Chaudhary, exiting the alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SP performed well in several constituencies, including Muzaffarnagar and Kairana.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, of the 136 seats across western UP, the SP-RLD alliance had won 43 seats, while BJP candidates were successful in 93 seats.
Political experts feel that choosing a rally site in a Gujjar-dominated region indicated the party’s push to expand its base in western UP while attempting to rebuild alliances among communities that drifted apart after the Muzaffarnagar communal riots in 2013.
While addressing the rally, Akhilesh announced that a statue of Mihir Bhoj would be installed at the riverfront in Lucknow in an apparent bid to connect with the Gujjar community, which regards Mihir Bhoj as a key historical figure.
The move appears to be in sync with SP’s broader non-Yadav OBC outreach strategy, positioning the party as one that respects community identity and history.
Raising doubts about infrastructure and development under the BJP government, particularly airport connectivity, the SP chief alleged that several inaugurated airports were non-functional and accused the government of promoting “hollow” development narratives.
Addressing farmers from districts including Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Shamli, Meerut, Bijnor, and Bulandshahr, he promised that if voted to power, his party would compensate land acquisition at market rates, alleging that current policies undervalue farmers’ land.
He also criticised the government over large investment MoUs that allegedly failed to generate corresponding employment, a point that resonated with the crowd.
SP spokesperson Ameek Jamei said the party has a clear roadmap focused on youth, women, and farmers ahead of the 2027 elections.
He added that upcoming rallies will further outline the party’s development agenda for Uttar Pradesh.