The Samajwadi Party’s newly launched ‘PDA Pathshala’ has sparked controversy across Uttar Pradesh after videos surfaced showing children being taught politically charged alphabets “A for Akhilesh” and “D for Dimple” in reference to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife and MP Dimple Yadav.
The initiative, launched in protest against the state government’s school merger policy, has now led to FIRs against SP leaders over allegations of using schoolchildren for political sloganeering.
Under the campaign, PDA Pathshalas are being organised near schools identified for merger, with SP claiming to be protecting the future of rural children. However, in multiple districts, these sessions have drawn criticism for allegedly involving children in political activities. Videos circulating on social media show children chanting pro-SP slogans like “Samajwadi Party aayegi, punah pathshala khulwaayegi” (SP will return and reopen schools).
In one such case, the headmaster of Sikandara Primary School in Bhadohi’s Aurai block filed a police complaint after SP leader Anjani Saroj and her supporters allegedly entered the school without permission, distributed notebooks and pencils to children, and led them in party slogans. Based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered at Chaura police station. The headmaster has also submitted video evidence to the police.
BJP slams SP’s ‘PDA Pathshala’, calls It ‘political brainwashing’ of children
Reacting sharply to the controversy, BJP’s Uttar Pradesh President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary accused the SP of misusing children for political gains. “This is not education — this is Samajwadi brainwash. They are poisoning the minds of innocent children with slogans like ‘A for Akhilesh’ and ‘D for Dimple’,” he said in Saharanpur.
He termed it a “conspiracy to inject political venom into tender minds” and asserted that BJP would oppose such “distorted and dangerous practices” on every platform. “SP had ruined education when it was in power. Now it wants to destroy the progress made under the Yogi government by politicising school campuses,” Chaudhary added.
The BJP leader also questioned the SP’s priorities, saying, “If they truly cared about children’s education, they would teach A for APJ Abdul Kalam. But SP’s mindset does not go beyond family politics.”
Highlighting improvements in education under the current government, Chaudhary said that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state has seen unprecedented reforms — from action against cheating mafias to the introduction of digital education and improved school infrastructure.
“Children’s education is sacred. It will not be allowed to become a casualty of SP’s cheap politics. We are committed to ensuring impartial and quality education for every child in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
