Akhilesh Yadav expands 'PDA' to include Pandits as SP reaches out to Brahmins in UP

Lucknow, August 5: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said his party's 'PDA' constituency includes Pandits, signalling an effort to draw Brahmins into the social justice coalition ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections expected early next year.

The SP has used the 'PDA' plank — which stands for Pichhda (backwards), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (minorities) — since the 2022 Assembly election as a call for broader unity of social justice forces. At a 'Brahmin/Prabuddh varg Sammelan' held at the party headquarters in Lucknow on the birth anniversary of late socialist leader and MP Janeshwar Mishra, Mr. Yadav sought to redefine the acronym.

“People keep talking about PDA and inventing new meanings about it. Ever since they (BJP) lost to PDA, they have been trying to redefine it. But they have forgotten that the 'PD' in PDA also stands for Pandit. The more they inflict peeda (pain), the stronger PDA will become,” he said.

Mr. Yadav attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for what he called the neglect of Brahmins, other marginalised communities and religious leaders. He accused the administration of targeting Opposition workers and leaders. “They were already targeting our workers and us. Now they have also started targeting the Brahmin community. They are after the 'P' of PDA as well,” he alleged.

The SP chief referred to Swami Avimukteshwaranand being prevented from taking a holy dip during the Kumbh congregation earlier this year. “If there is any example in history where a government stopped a Shankaracharya from taking a holy dip, show us one. A false POCSO case was also filed to intimidate him, but he did not bow down,” he said.

In another appeal to Brahmins, Mr. Yadav said the SP has always worked to give respect to the community whenever it got the chance. He also touched upon the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple: “Today, the biggest sin committed by anyone is that by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which stole even the offerings made to Lord Shri Ram… Lord Shri Ram will not let them win.”

Political analyst Asad Rizvi, based in Lucknow, said the outreach to Brahmins is aimed at securing a section of votes that could prove to be a game changer. “Brahmins, with a population of over 9%, are traditional BJP voters. The SP plans to align with the Brahmin community through Janeshwar Mishra's birth anniversary. It knows that winning the community's trust will significantly ease its path to power,” he said.

The move comes as the SP seeks to broaden its support base beyond its traditional Yadav-Muslim constituency. With the Assembly election due in early 2027, the party is attempting to position itself as a unifying force against the ruling BJP, using the expanded PDA framework to appeal to a wider spectrum of voters.