New Delhi: All political parties are working tirelessly in preparation for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. While the official election bugle has yet to be sounded, political leaders and parties have already sharpened their arrows and prepared their arsenals, and they have begun to deploy these strategies. In the politics of Uttar Pradesh, the presence of farmers from the western region has always been a subject of significant discussion. The Samajwadi Party (SP) is employing various tactics to attract this demographic.
A meeting between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has sparked widespread speculation within political circles. Through this engagement with Rakesh Tikait, the SP is attempting to strengthen its foothold among the farming community. This meeting, taking place well ahead of the elections, is being interpreted in several ways.
Discussion held on the plight of farmers
Following the meeting, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav shared a message on the social media platform ‘X’. He wrote, “Greenery should not merely be a symbol of prosperity; rather, the ‘greenery of prosperity’ should flourish in every home, at every doorstep, and in every courtyard. This will only be possible when farmers, the agricultural sector, rural communities, and villagers receive both the respect and the fair value they deserve for their hard work.” After the meeting, Akhilesh asserted that the farming community is the most distressed segment across the entire state of Uttar Pradesh.
He further wrote, “Today, I discussed the challenges faced by farmers with farmer leader Rakesh Tikait. It became clear that the farming community is, in fact, the most aggrieved group in all of Uttar Pradesh. I reiterated that ‘those who are suffering are part of the PDA.’ In the ‘PDA’ framework, the ‘A’ also stands for ‘Annadata’ (the food providers/farmers). The growing support from farmers is committed to ensuring the victory of the ‘PDA’ in every village and at every polling booth. We shall reiterate: ‘When the fields smile, the nation will smile!’
SP Chief focused on expanding the ‘PDA’
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is currently working on broadening the scope of his ‘PDA’ (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak — Backwards, Dalit, Minority) framework. In a recent post, he clarified that the ‘A’ in PDA does not stand solely for ‘Alpsankhyak’ (Minority), but also for ‘Annadata’ (the provider of food/farmers). He further emphasised that anyone who is oppressed or suffering falls under the PDA umbrella.
The timing of this meeting, ahead of the elections, is highly significant. The farming community will be a key component of the SP’s strategy for the upcoming elections, and the party intends to highlight their concerns prominently. In the coming days, the SP is likely to raise issues critical to farmers—such as the availability of fertilisers and electricity, payments for sugarcane crops, and the Minimum Support Price (MSP)—as a means to corner the BJP government.
A crucial meeting ahead of the elections
It is worth noting that in the politics of Western Uttar Pradesh, the roles of the farming community and the Jat community are considered pivotal. Various political players are actively strategising to bring both these groups into their fold. Following the Rashtriya Lok Dal’s (RLD) decision to align with the NDA, Akhilesh Yadav has been seeking a figure with strong ties to the farming community; Rakesh Tikait could potentially fill that void.
In the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections held between 2014 and 2019, the BJP secured the support of a large segment of the Jat and farming communities, which propelled the party to a commanding position in the region. However, in the 2022 and 2024 elections, the BJP faced setbacks, losing several seats. This decline is largely attributed to growing resentment within the Jat and farming communities toward the government. Given this context, the SP could leverage its association with Tikait to further strengthen its position in these areas.
