SP Chief Positions Affordable Education as Key Issue for 2027 UP Assembly Polls
In a significant political move, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday declared that affordable education will be a decisive factor in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. This announcement came just a day after the Modi government revealed in the Rajya Sabha that 18,272 government schools have been shut across India over the past five years, while 8,475 private unaided schools have emerged during the same period.
Revival of PDA Pathshala Initiative
Akhilesh Yadav announced that if the Samajwadi Party is voted to form the government in Uttar Pradesh, the party's PDA Pathshala initiative would be reintroduced as a statewide movement. The SP had originally launched this initiative in July 2025, following the UP government's decision to close and merge approximately 26,000 primary schools while simultaneously granting permission to establish 27,000 new liquor stores.
The SP seized this opportunity to highlight that education was not a priority for the BJP-led state government. Party workers set up PDA Pathshalas in school buildings that had been left locked due to the closure or merger process. However, the government responded swiftly by lodging FIRs against SP workers who attempted to establish these schools, forcing the party to suspend the initiative within a fortnight of its launch.
Parliamentary Debate Sparks Renewed Focus
After the issue of school closures was raised in Parliament on Thursday, Akhilesh Yadav reiterated his commitment to the cause. He stated that the symbolic PDA Pathshala campaign would evolve into a full-fledged movement once the SP gains power in Uttar Pradesh. On Friday, he emphasized that the closure of schools in the state is certain to influence the 2027 polls, particularly as the BJP's decision to shut and merge schools has disproportionately affected the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) community.
Strong Criticism of BJP's Education Policies
In a statement posted on X, Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of having an ideology opposed to education. He asserted, "BJP's very ideology is against education, which is why they are getting schools closed." He further explained that the BJP fears education will enlighten young minds, foster scientific temperament, increase general awareness, and empower youth to ask questions—all of which he claims are detrimental to the BJP's conservative and orthodox ideology.
Labeling the deprivation of students' right to education as a social crime, Akhilesh warned that this policy would impact the PDA community the most. He also noted that the government's own data, showing a decline in public schools and a rise in private unaided institutions, underscores the urgent need for affordable educational options.
Emotional Appeal to Voters
The SP chief argued that the BJP's actions have not only left students unhappy but have also deeply affected parents. He stated, "Mothers who wanted their children to get education and lead a better life are furious and will come forward to defeat the BJP." This emotional appeal aims to galvanize public support by connecting the issue to parental aspirations and community welfare.
As the political landscape heats up ahead of the 2027 elections, Akhilesh Yadav's focus on education as a poll issue sets the stage for a contentious debate over governance priorities and social equity in Uttar Pradesh.
