Akhilesh Yadav's Noida PDA Rally Sparks 2027 UP Election Buzz
In a strategic move ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is set to visit Noida on March 28. He will preside over a PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) sammelan, marking a significant step in the party's early poll campaign preparations. This announcement has generated considerable enthusiasm among the party cadre, who are drawing vivid parallels to Yadav's historic 2011 bicycle rally from Noida to Agra.
Echoes of a Historic Campaign
The upcoming event has rekindled memories of October 2011, when Akhilesh Yadav led a bicycle campaign from Noida to Agra just before the 2012 UP elections. That grassroots effort culminated in his coronation as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, a victory that remains a defining moment in the state's political landscape. SP functionaries in Noida are already expressing optimism, suggesting that this new rally could similarly pave the way for Yadav to be sworn in as CM for a second term.
"Our national president is scheduled to preside over a meeting of the Gurjar community as part of the ongoing PDA sammelans across the state," stated a senior party functionary. He added that the cadre's enthusiasm is palpable, with slogans being coined that directly reference the 2011 bicycle rally and the subsequent electoral triumph. This fervor highlights the party's focus on mobilizing backward classes, Dalits, and minorities—a core strategy in their bid to reclaim power.
Challenging the 'Noida Jinx'
Interestingly, the SP cadre's upbeat mood contrasts sharply with the long-standing superstition known as the "Noida jinx." This belief, which haunted Uttar Pradesh politics for decades, suggested that sitting chief ministers who visited Noida would face political downfall. The jinx traces back to 1988 when then-CM Veer Bahadur Singh lost his position after a trip to Noida. It gained further credence in 1989 when his successor, ND Tiwari, was voted out of office barely a month after visiting the city.
Thereafter, successive chief ministers—including Mulayam Singh Yadav, Kalyan Singh, Rajnath Singh, and Mayawati—reportedly avoided Noida, especially ahead of elections, fearing the curse. However, this superstition was effectively broken in 2018 when Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Noida to inaugurate a 12-kilometer stretch of the Delhi Metro's Kalkaji Mandir-Botanical Garden segment. Both leaders went on to win subsequent elections and have retained their positions to date, dispelling the myth and reshaping political perceptions of the region.
Strategic Implications for 2027
The planned PDA sammelan in Noida is not merely a symbolic gesture but a calculated political maneuver. By holding the event in a city once avoided due to superstition, Akhilesh Yadav aims to project confidence and connect with key voter demographics. The rally is expected to focus on issues affecting marginalized communities, aligning with the SP's broader campaign themes of social justice and inclusive governance.
As the 2027 elections approach, this visit underscores the SP's intent to build momentum early, leveraging nostalgia from past successes while addressing contemporary challenges. The juxtaposition of historical parallels and the broken jinx adds a layer of intrigue to Uttar Pradesh's evolving political narrative, setting the stage for a highly contested electoral battle in the years to come.
