Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has launched a sharp political attack against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In a post shared on social media platform X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister questioned Adityanath's silence regarding the appointment of the contentious new Governor of Sikkim by the ruling party. In his remarks, Yadav invoked the Chief Minister's ties to Uttarakhand and demanded answers on moral accountability.
Targeting the Chief Minister Over Sikkim's Gubernatorial Pick
Yadav remarked that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, who frequently speaks about the Rajya Sabha elections, must speak out on the appointment of the controversial Governor of Sikkim made by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Addressing Adityanath in strong terms, Yadav stated that if the Chief Minister possessed any sense of modesty or hesitation, he would break his silence on this sensitive matter.
Furthermore, Yadav highlighted the broader moral responsibility towards the women of Uttarakhand. He asked whether the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has any ongoing duty towards the daughters of Uttarakhand. Taking a swipe at the Chief Minister's background, Yadav questioned whether leaving Uttarakhand meant that all obligations and accountability towards the people and daughters of that state were completely severed.
Rajya Sabha Political Context and Deliberations
This political controversy comes amid significant organisational activity within the Bharatiya Janata Party concerning Rajya Sabha elections. In Uttar Pradesh, extensive political discussions recently took place regarding candidate selections, including a detailed meeting lasting an hour and a half between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and senior party leader BL Santhosh. Across the country, Rajya Sabha developments have remained in the spotlight, marked by notable events such as Nitish Kumar taking the oath as a Rajya Sabha member followed by a congratulatory post from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside several high-level political meetings.
Seizing the moment during these ongoing political engagements, Akhilesh Yadav has sought to hold the ruling party leadership and the Uttar Pradesh government accountable for high-level constitutional appointments. The opposition contends that appointing a figure linked to ongoing controversies undermines the prestige associated with constitutional offices.
The Ankita Bhandari Case and the Governor Row
The controversy surrounding the appointment is closely tied to the fallout from the Ankita Bhandari murder case in Uttarakhand. The 2022 murder case saw resort owner Pulkit Arya along with two associates convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the court. Pulkit Arya's father was subsequently expelled from the Bharatiya Janata Party as public outrage erupted across the state.
Dushyant Gautam, who was appointed as the Governor of Sikkim, has faced allegations in connection with the broader political fallout of the case. However, Gautam has completely denied all allegations leveled against him. There is neither a first information report nor a formal charge sheet filed against him in the matter, and inquiries by the Central Bureau of Investigation remain ongoing. While opposition leaders argue that placing someone associated with such controversies in a governor's chair is inappropriate, government supporters maintain that making allegations without judicial conviction is politically motivated.
About the Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the two major political parties in India. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party at the Centre under the leadership of the fourteenth and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Associated with right-wing politics, the party historically reflects traditional Hindu nationalist ideology and maintains close organizational and ideological relations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. As of December 18, 2023, the party had 1,435 legislative assembly members across the country, making it the largest party in the Indian Parliament as well as across state assemblies. According to the party's claims in October 2022, with over 170 million members, it stands as the largest political party in the world.
Public Reaction
The public reaction to the statement on social media remained intensely polarized. While a section of users commended Akhilesh Yadav for demanding accountability on women's safety and constitutional appointments, another section criticized the remarks as opportunistic politics, emphasizing that courts determine guilt and pointing out past law and order concerns during previous Samajwadi Party administrations.
