Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched a sharp attack on opposition parties over what they describe as “PDA politics”, calling it a calculated attempt to mislead the public and protect dynastic interests. Speaking at a public interaction, the Chief Minister said the PDA narrative is not about social justice or empowerment but a political cover designed to safeguard “parivarvaad” (dynastic politics).
The Lead
Addressing party workers and supporters, CM Yogi said the PDA framework, often projected as a coalition of backward classes, Dalits, and minorities, is being used as a political tool rather than a genuine movement for inclusive development. He alleged that opposition parties invoke PDA selectively during elections while continuing to prioritise family-controlled leadership structures behind the scenes.
What CM Yogi Said
The Chief Minister questioned the credibility of parties advocating PDA, asking why leadership positions within these parties continue to remain confined to a few families. “If their politics is truly about empowering the marginalised, why does leadership never move beyond one household?” he asked. According to him, PDA is being presented as a moral cause, but its real objective is to consolidate vote banks while maintaining dynastic control.
CM Yogi asserted that such narratives thrive on fear and misinformation, diverting attention from governance, development, and accountability. He said voters are being emotionally mobilised instead of being offered concrete solutions to issues such as employment, infrastructure, law and order, and welfare delivery.
Attack on Dynastic Politics
Reiterating his long-standing criticism of dynastic politics, the Chief Minister said India’s democracy suffers when leadership is inherited rather than earned. He contrasted this with what he described as the BJP’s model of performance-based politics, where leaders are judged on governance outcomes rather than lineage.
He claimed that dynastic parties historically neglected the very communities they now claim to represent. “For decades, these groups were used only as vote banks. Real empowerment never happened,” he said, adding that slogans have replaced structural reforms in opposition politics.
BJP’s Counter-Narrative
CM Yogi highlighted the BJP’s focus on what he termed “inclusive development”, citing welfare schemes aimed at housing, sanitation, healthcare, and food security. He argued that these initiatives do not discriminate based on caste or religion and are delivered directly to beneficiaries without political mediation.
According to him, this approach threatens parties dependent on identity-based mobilisation. “When development reaches everyone, the politics of division automatically weakens,” he said. He also pointed to improvements in law and order in Uttar Pradesh, claiming that a secure environment is essential for social justice and economic growth.
Political Context and Opposition Response
The remarks come at a time when political activity is intensifying across states, with opposition alliances attempting to consolidate social coalitions under broader ideological umbrellas like PDA. While opposition leaders argue that such frameworks are necessary to counter majoritarian politics, the BJP maintains that these alliances are opportunistic and lack a common governance vision.
Opposition parties have previously accused the BJP of undermining social diversity, a charge the ruling party strongly rejects. CM Yogi responded by saying that genuine empowerment cannot be achieved through slogans or symbolic unity but through consistent policy execution and institutional reform.
Why It Matters
CM Yogi’s comments underline a broader political battle over narrative control ahead of upcoming electoral contests. The debate over PDA versus development-centric politics reflects competing visions of how social justice should be pursued in India. While opposition parties emphasise identity-based mobilisation, the BJP is doubling down on governance, welfare delivery, and a strong critique of dynastic politics.
As election season approaches, such exchanges are expected to intensify, shaping campaign strategies and voter perceptions across key states.
