'This is the Victory of PDA Strategy': Akhilesh Yadav's First Reaction Amid SP's Win in UP

New Delhi: After the Samajwadi Party (SP) emerged as a victorious and formidable challenger in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections, Chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his gratitude towards the party's supporters, saying that it a win of PDA's strategy. This comes as the SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh secured 43 seats, while BJP and BSP secured 33 and 0 seats respectively.

Taking to X, Yadav said, "Dear 'sensible voters of UP.' India alliance's 'popular victory' in UP: It is also a victory of the trust of the Dalit-Bahujan community which, along with its backward, minority, tribal, half the population and all the neglected, exploited and oppressed sections of the society, has fought shoulder to shoulder to save the Constitution which gives the right to equality, respect, self-respect, dignified life and reservation."

"This is a victory of women's dignity and women's safety. This is the victory of the golden future of young women and boys. ⁠This is the victory of new hopes of farmers, labourers, businessmen and traders. This is a collective victory of harmony-loving, inclusive and egalitarian positive people of the entire society. This is the victory of the continuous, tireless, fearless and honest efforts of an unbiased and honest media. This is a victory of the protectors of the Constitution who consider it as their life-giver. This is a victory for the courageous supporters of democracy. This is the victory of the poor," he added.

Furthermore, the SP Chief attributed the party's victory to the "PDA," or "Pichde (backward classes or OBCs), Dalits and Alpasankhyak (Minorities) strategy. In the run-up polls, Akhilesh introduced the new strategy by expanding the party's vote base from "M-Y" or "Muslim-Yadav," to backward classes. The acronym was first used in 2023, when he targeted the NDA saying "PDA hi NDA ko harayega (It will be the PDA which will defeat the NDA)."

Concluding his post, Akhilesh said, "We will maintain and fulfil the trust you have placed in us with full responsibility. My heartfelt thanks for this – heartfelt thanks and infinite best wishes for the new positive times to come!"

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to form the government for the third consecutive term with the BJP-led NDA getting a majority of 240 seats. However, the party is falling short of the 272 majority mark and needs the support of allies in the party-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) for government formation, a far cry from the 303 and 282 seats it had won in 2019 and 2014 respectively to have a majority on its own.