Row erupts in Amethi over posters targeting Akhilesh Yadav ahead of UP polls

AMETHI: Posters and hoardings targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have appeared at multiple locations here, sparking a political row months ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

The posters, put up outside the Amethi railway station and at several intersections, carry the slogan, "Aap ko kya chahiye? Akhilesh ka Lyari raj."




The reference is to Lyari, a locality in Pakistan’s Karachi once known for gang wars and violence, and also mentioned in the Bollywood movie "Dhurandhar", according to news agency PTI.

The hoardings, allegedly put up by a group calling itself "Youth Against Mafia", juxtapose alleged incidents of violence and riots during Yadav’s tenure as chief minister with the current government’s crackdown on mafia and criminals under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Names and photographs of the organisation’s office-bearers, including its executive president, general secretary and Pratapgarh in-charge, are also displayed on the posters.

The Samajwadi Party condemned the move, alleging political vendetta. District spokesperson advocate Rajesh Mishra said the posters reflected the "frustration and desperation" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

He claimed the BJP was resorting to such tactics as it had realised that it would not return to power, adding that the public was aware of these "attempts to mislead".

Amethi police station in-charge Ravi Singh said police had received information about the posters and a team had been sent to the spot.

He said further action would be taken after an investigation.
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