States » NorthPosted at: Nov 15 2026 6:21PM


SP leaders have started issuing threats ahead of 2027 polls, says UP BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary

Kannauj, Nov 15 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh BJP president and union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on Sunday accused Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders of threatening political opponents ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, claiming they had begun warning that they would "settle scores" if voted back to power.
Addressing a conference of nomadic communities at the Boarding Ground here on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, Chaudhary said that although the Assembly elections are still some time away, SP leaders have already started issuing such statements.
He said the remarks have prompted senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav to instruct the party's district presidents on November 8 to refrain from issuing threats about returning to power.
Taking a swipe at the SP leadership, Chaudhary also referred to the conviction of Nawab Singh Yadav in a case involving the sexual assault of a minor girl, alleging that senior party leaders actively defended him.
"Had there been an SP government in the state, Nawab Singh Yadav would never have been convicted," he claimed.
Paying tribute to tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his 151st birth anniversary, Chaudhary said November 15 is an occasion to remember the contributions and sacrifices of national heroes who fought to protect the country's culture, land, forests and water resources.
Targeting the SP and other opposition parties, he alleged that dynastic politics have kept the interests of poor, exploited and marginalised communities, particularly nomadic and denotified tribes, on the sidelines.
He claimed that political parties which have governed Uttar Pradesh for decades had failed to ensure housing, education, employment and dignity for these communities.
Referring to the Kannauj MP and his family, Chaudhary alleged that they have enjoyed power for generations but had done little for the education, housing and welfare of children from nomadic communities.
He urged people to compare Uttar Pradesh's situation before and after 2017 ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Highlighting the BJP government's initiatives, Chaudhary said its development agenda is centred on four priorities -- housing, education, livelihood and healthcare.
He said the relationship between the government and society should be based on "respect, identity, opportunity and development", adding that the vision of a developed India by 2047 could not be achieved without the participation of nomadic and marginalised communities.
"The path from coaching to becoming a district collector is now open to your children," he said, asserting that the government is committed to ensuring that development benefits reached the last person in society.
Chaudhary said November 15 is designated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas in 2021 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership to honour tribal freedom fighters and unsung national heroes. The period from November 15, 2024, to November 15, 2025, is also observed as Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, he added.
He said the Centre has taken several initiatives for the welfare of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities, including the constitution of a National Commission in January 2015, the establishment of a Development and Welfare Board in February 2019 and the launch of the SEED scheme in 2022.
Under various welfare initiatives, Rs 26.75 crore was allocated for 4,485 students from denotified tribes for 2025-26, while Rs 16 crore was utilised to support livelihood initiatives benefiting 64,701 people, he said.
More than 1.87 lakh people have received skill training under the PM-Daksh scheme, of whom over 96,000 had secured employment, while 73,569 Ayushman Bharat cards had been issued to families from denotified tribes during 2025-26, Chaudhary said.
He also cited the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which has an outlay of Rs 79,156 crore and aims to benefit more than five crore people.
Referring to the state government's initiatives, he said the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved the formation of a Nomadic Development Board in August 2026 following an announcement by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The board would work towards ensuring access to government schemes related to housing, education, employment and healthcare for the most marginalised sections, he added.
Chaudhary also recalled that the British-era Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, which stigmatised nomadic and denotified communities, was repealed on August 31, 1952. The date is observed as Vimukti Diwas, he said.
He said the traditions and cultural heritage of communities such as the Banjara, Bhil and Gadiya Lohar, along with the legacy of Nishadraj and Mata Shabari, represented the country's shared cultural strength.UNI MBD AAB
Tags: #SP leaders have started issuing threats ahead of 2027 polls# says UP BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary
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