Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has sharply criticized the disqualification of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Abbas Ansari, alleging the BJP government selectively targets opposition leaders. The remarks came after Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana declared Ansari's Mau seat vacant following his hate speech conviction.
"Only socialist leaders face membership cancellations," Yadav stated during a Lucknow press conference, noting that ruling party members routinely make inflammatory statements without consequence. He suggested judicial appointments are being made to influence such decisions, hinting at caste and religious bias in the process.
The SP chief also positioned his party for upcoming panchayat elections, framing them as a precursor to the 2027 state polls. "The public is ready to remove BJP from power," he claimed, while warning about potential electoral malpractices by the ruling party. Political observers note Ansari's disqualification creates a crucial by-election in Mau, a constituency with significant Muslim and backward caste populations.
