In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has accelerated his political preparations against the ruling BJP ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. On Saturday, Yadav launched a new party song promoting “PDA Prahari,” signaling the start of an aggressive ground campaign. SP workers will assist voters in filling out SIR forms and mobilizing support at the booth level. Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that the BJP is deliberately conducting the SIR verification exercise during the peak wedding season, making it difficult for citizens to be found at home and enabling the ruling party to manipulate voter lists. He claimed the BJP chose this timing knowing people are busiest with wedding-related commitments. Yadav also raised serious concerns regarding pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), referring to recent suicide incidents linked to alleged workload and coercion. Supporting Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s claims, he said BLOs are under extreme stress, with several untraceable and others allegedly pushed to the brink. He called the BJP’s remarks on these deaths insensitive towards grieving families. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner demanding a halt to the SIR exercise and has launched protest marches. The BJP has countered, accusing the Opposition of misleading the public and asserting that the process is constitutionally mandated. The two parties also remain locked in a fierce confrontation over the infiltration issue, with the BJP warning against “turning Bengal into Bangladesh,” while the TMC cites repeated terror threats and blames border security lapses on the Centre.

