New Delhi: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, suggesting that his party should be renamed “Samajwadi Yadav Parivar” over alleged favouritism towards the Yadav community and inadequate Muslim representation.
Addressing a rally in Kairana on Sunday, Owaisi questioned the changing political representation in constituencies such as Azamgarh and Firozabad, alleging that members of Akhilesh Yadav’s family had replaced Muslim leaders in these seats.
“Akhilesh Yadav, the name of your party should be changed from Samajwadi to Samajwadi Yadav Parivar,” Owaisi said, accusing the party of failing to adequately represent the interests of Muslims.
The AIMIM chief also targeted Akhilesh Yadav over the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, which took place when the Samajwadi Party was in power in Uttar Pradesh. Owaisi alleged that around 50,000 people were forced to leave their homes during the violence.
He claimed that women and girls faced attacks, children were orphaned and families who had lived in their villages for generations were left homeless. Owaisi questioned the Samajwadi Party’s responsibility for the violence, pointing out that Akhilesh Yadav was the chief minister at the time.
Owaisi also criticised opposition parties for allegedly failing to raise issues affecting minorities and other disadvantaged sections of society. He accused them of remaining silent over mosque demolitions and alleged “half encounters” under the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier this month, Owaisi had expressed his willingness to form an alliance with the Samajwadi Party to prevent the BJP from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh for a third consecutive term.
However, with no visible progress on an alliance, Owaisi has increasingly stepped up his criticism of Akhilesh Yadav’s party, signalling a sharper political contest ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
