Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav asserted on Tuesday that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections signified the end of communal politics in India, declaring it a moral triumph for the INDIA bloc.
During his participation in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the president’s address, the Kannauj MP raised concerns about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), vowing to challenge their authenticity even if his party secured all seats in Uttar Pradesh.
Yadav hailed June 4, the day the election results were announced, as a day of liberation from communal politics for the nation.
He pointed out that the BJP’s loss in Faizabad, Ayodhya, where the Ram temple stands, reflects the voters' discernment.
“The whole India has understood that INDIA is pro-India. This election is the moral victory of INDIA. It is a victory of positive politics. It is victory of PDA (Pichde Dali Alpsankhayak), social justice movement. 2024’s message is also full of responsibility for the INDIA bloc,” the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh remarked.
“June 4, 2024 was the day of independence from communal politics for India. In this election, communal politics has lost forever,” Yadav said.
“This election is a new era of positive politics, pro-Constitution people have won, the Constitution has won… It is the end of top-down politics,” he said.
Referencing the BJP’s defeat in Faizabad, Yadav suggested it was perhaps the will of Lord Ram.
“Hoi wahi jo Ram rachi rakha (Whatever Ram has planned will happen),” Yadav said.
“The victory of Ayodhya is the victory of the wisdom of India’s voters,” he said.
During his speech, Faizabad MP and SP leader Awadhesh Kumar was seated beside Yadav in the House.
Expressing skepticism about EVMs, Yadav said, “When the Model Code of Conduct was implemented, there was favoritism by the government and the Commission. I don’t wish to delve into specifics.”
“Questions have been raised about that institution as well,” Yadav mentioned, alluding to the Election Commission.
“I didn’t trust EVMs in the past, I don’t trust them now. Even if I win all 80 seats, I won’t trust EVMs,” he asserted, adding, “The issue with EVMs is unresolved, and we Samajwadis will persist in our stance.”
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla later advised that it would be prudent not to cast doubts on the impartiality of the Election Commission.
Addressing the NEET issue, Yadav stated, “The past decade has witnessed the emergence of an education mafia. Even the country’s most esteemed paper was leaked… The government is facilitating leaks to avoid providing jobs to the youth.”
“If jobs are provided, reservations must also be honored… The government has intentionally manipulated jobs and reservations,” he claimed.
Supporting the demand for a caste census, Yadav argued that social justice is unattainable without it.
He further pledged that the INDIA bloc, upon coming to power, would abolish the Agnipath scheme and reinstate the old pension scheme.
“The concerns regarding Agniveer persist… We will never accept this scheme. Once the INDIA bloc is in power, this scheme will be revoked,” he concluded.
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