As his PDA Rath rolled out in the Congress stronghold of Rae Bareli on Thursday to mark the formal launch of the Samajwadi Party’s campaign for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections, SP national president Akhilesh Yadav reiterated that his party’s alliance with the Congress is strong and their sole aim is to defeat the BJP.
The PDA Rath yatra forms part of the Samajwadi Party’s broader mobilisation effort across central Uttar Pradesh, aimed at consolidating the Pichhda (backward), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (minority) communities-the core of its PDA social coalition-ahead of the 2027 polls. With this focus on the 2027 polls, he said decisions on alliances would be based on winnability. He set a clear electoral target for party workers: “For 2027, try to increase votes by 27,000 in every constituency.
He also accused the BJP of planning to bring the Uniform Civil Code before elections and of taking a communal route when facing electoral setbacks. Rae Bareli is currently represented by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha. This will help us in forming an SP government.”
Amid a rousing welcome, the “PDA Rath” convoy was halted by party workers and supporters who lined the highway.
Earlier in the day, he attacked the Election Commission, made a strong social justice pitch and highlighted the Ram temple donation theft controversy. The former chief minister, who addressed a large public meeting at the Government Inter College ground after a five-hour journey on the Rath, earlier boarded the PDA Rath at Churua village in the Bachhrawan area.
