Akhilesh Yadav Defends Alliance with Congress, Cites Relevance of JP Narayan’s Ideals

By A Staff Reporter

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav addressed questions regarding his party’s alliance with the Congress, a party historically associated with the jailing of social activist JP Narayan during the Emergency. Yadav emphasized that the SP’s core principles have not shifted, citing issues highlighted by JP Narayan decades ago that, in his view, persist today.

He noted that challenges such as corruption, unemployment, and social injustice remain prevalent. "Even at that time, there was corruption, unemployment, and injustice; even then, socialists fought against that, and we will fight it now as well," Yadav stated. He also highlighted the need to engage with youth and farmers, suggesting that these groups remain central to the party’s outreach efforts.

Yadav criticized the current government’s focus on enforcement measures, such as the use of bulldozers, and argued that JP Narayan’s vision of governance close to the people continues to resonate. By invoking the ideals of the late social activist, Yadav aimed to underscore continuity in his party’s ideological stance while defending its collaboration with the Congress.