In a significant political and cultural move, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has unveiled a unique calendar for the year 2026, aiming to connect with its core support base. The calendar, which blends traditional almanac features with political messaging, is now being actively distributed to party workers across India following its official release by party president Akhilesh Yadav.
Samajwadi Party's PDA Panchang: A Blend of Politics and Culture
The calendar, officially titled the 'Samajwadi PDA Panchang', serves a dual purpose. It marks standard dates of national, historical, and cultural importance. However, its distinct feature is the prominent highlighting of death and birth anniversaries of key figures. These include the party's own ideologues and founders, as well as former social icons belonging to the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) caste groups. This strategic focus underscores the party's continued emphasis on social justice and its commitment to representing backward classes, Dalits, and minorities.
Congress Raises Alarm Over Voter List 'Flaws'
In a separate development from Uttar Pradesh, the Congress party is preparing to confront the Election Commission over alleged discrepancies in the electoral roll. The issue arose after the name of senior Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal and his family members were missing from the draft electoral roll following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
According to Sappal, his family's names were present in the 2003 electoral roll and all necessary documents were submitted. He attributed the deletion to a change of residence from Sahibabad to Noida within Uttar Pradesh. Congress sources indicate the party's state unit plans to use this incident to target the EC, raising the issue with the UP Chief Electoral Officer and amplifying it across the state to highlight perceived flaws in the revision process.
Congress Leaders Shift Gear with Foreign Policy Books
Marking a departure from conventional parliamentary criticism, senior Congress leaders are now authoring books on foreign policy. Former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid is set to launch his book 'India's Tryst with the World' this week. The book contemplates India's strategic positioning as it approaches the centenary of its independence in 2047.
Adding to this literary foray, Congress MP and member of the parliamentary committee on external affairs, Manish Tewari, will release his book 'A World Adrift' next week. These publications signal an effort by the opposition to engage with global diplomacy through detailed discourse beyond the floor of the House.
The political landscape continues to evolve with these symbolic and substantive moves, from the SP's outreach via its specially curated calendar to the Congress's multi-pronged approach of administrative challenge and intellectual contribution on policy matters.
