BJP Governments Failed on Inflation and Unemployment, Relying on Propaganda, Says Akhilesh Yadav

In a scathing critique of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused both the central and Uttar Pradesh governments of failing to address critical issues affecting citizens, instead focusing on what he termed “propaganda” and “event-based politics.”

Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Thursday, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister painted a grim picture of life under BJP governance, claiming that ordinary citizens are “standing in queues for basic needs” such as cooking gas, highlighting the growing economic pressures on households.

Yadav specifically criticized the government’s handling of LPG supply chains, suggesting that policy changes were implemented without adequate production planning, leading to shortages and price increases. These comments come at a time when cooking gas prices have become a political flashpoint, with opposition parties regularly highlighting the burden on low and middle-income families.

The Samajwadi Party leader took aim at what he characterized as the BJP’s flawed governance model, alleging that policy decisions routinely push citizens into “dire difficulties” without providing adequate relief measures.

In a pointed attack on the Uttar Pradesh government’s development claims, Yadav called for a comprehensive investigation into recently signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs), suggesting that several agreements were made with financially unstable companies. He alleged these deals were designed primarily to create a “false narrative” of investment rather than generate actual economic growth in the state.

The opposition leader also highlighted what he sees as missed opportunities in technology adoption, particularly in the agricultural sector. Despite India’s potential to leverage Artificial Intelligence for improving agricultural productivity through predictive analysis, Yadav claimed the government has failed to establish the necessary infrastructure or provide adequate training to farmers who could benefit from such technologies.

According to Yadav, the BJP allocates significant resources to negative campaigning aimed at damaging political opponents’ reputations rather than addressing substantive governance issues. This approach, he suggested, reveals a preference for image management over addressing the actual challenges facing citizens.

On foreign policy, Yadav criticized the central government’s handling of India’s position during the ongoing conflicts in West Asia, arguing that “wrong economic and diplomatic policies” have prevented the country from strengthening its international standing during a critical geopolitical period.

Environmental concerns featured prominently in Yadav’s critique as well. He drew attention to the increasing human-animal conflicts in Uttar Pradesh, attributing this problem to deforestation and illegal mining activities that have displaced wildlife from their natural habitats. He cited Sitapur district as an example where multiple lives have been lost due to wild animal attacks, while accusing the forest department of remaining “inactive” in addressing these threats.

The environmental degradation extends to the state’s waterways, according to Yadav, who pointed to the pollution of major rivers including the Ganga and Yamuna. He described visible garbage accumulation and deteriorating sanitation conditions affecting these historically and culturally significant rivers, which serve as lifelines for millions of people in the region.

Yadav’s comprehensive criticism comes as opposition parties intensify their scrutiny of BJP policies ahead of future electoral contests, with economic challenges and environmental concerns emerging as central themes in political discourse across Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous and politically significant state.