Akhilesh Yadav sharply retorted by calling Mayawati “beholden to the oppressors,” accusing her of collusion with the BJP.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday alleged that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had entered into a “secret pact” with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that Mayawati was “beholden to the oppressors” for mutual benefit. His comments came after Mayawati called the Samajwadi Party “double-faced.” At a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav said that because “their” internal collusion continues, they are beholden to their oppressors. He also said that the SP and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav had helped Kanshi Ram become an MP from Etawah. Akhilesh Yadav further said that if anyone other than Mayawati had installed his statue, it was me… All monuments were properly maintained during the SP government. During the press conference, Yadav, who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 2012 to 2017, also reiterated his PDA formula (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) and called for strengthening it. He further stated that the Samajwadi Party must continue its struggle to form a democratic government and establish social justice in the state. He said, “If we continue to connect with the people, the Samajwadi Party and India alliance will form a government in the near future.” Earlier in the day, Mayawati had called the Samajwadi Party “double-faced,” saying that Yadav’s party remembers Dalits only when it needs them. Speaking at a rally organized to mark the 19th death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh also accused Yadav’s party of neglecting Dalit memorials while in power in the state, saying that they did not spend a single rupee on their maintenance.