Akhilesh Yadav at all-party meeting a day before the Assembly session, in Lucknow on Wednesday.
The first session of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly after the Lok Sabha elections, which would also be the budget session, is expected to be stormy with the Opposition ready to take on Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over his alleged “failures” in tackling issues like crime against women, power crisis and pending dues of sugarcane farmers.
The tone for the budget session, which starts Thursday, was set Wednesday itself. The BJP boycotted an all-party meeting, convened by Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey and attended by Akhilesh, saying they would confront the government directly on the floor of the House.
Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation on moral ground, claiming “change of even one dozen DGPs or Principal Secretary (Home) would not bring about a difference until accountability is set”.
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The Opposition also raised the issue of frequent transfers of officers and recent reshuffle of ministers. During the meeting, sources said, RLD leader of Legislative Assembly Dalveer Singh said following the recent reshuffle, “all of Akhilesh’s ministers looked scared”. The remark was supported by Maurya while sources said the CM avoided a comment with only a smile.
“The government has become weak in front of criminals, mafias and goons. The Chief Minister is trying to shift the focus of failures of government by frequent transfers of officers and re-shuffle of ministers. He should resign on moral ground,” said Maurya after coming out of the all-party meeting.
His party, BSP, would aggressively raise the issues of women safety, poor law and order, electricity crisis as well as Rs 2,300 crore pending dues of cane farmers in the budget session, Maurya said. He also alleged the CM was acting at the behest of sugar mill owners.
BJP’s deputy leader of the house Satish Mahana said, “Such (all-party) meetings have no meaning, which is why we have boycotted it. This government has lost public mandate.
Developmental works are at a stand-still and officers and ministers are being shuffled like cards. Thus, we have decided to directly confront the government on the issues of law and order, safety of women, power crisis and pending sugar cane dues directly on the floor of the House.”
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Congress Leader of the Legislative Assembly Pradeep Mathur spoke on similar lines after the meeting. “Crime against women is the biggest issue on which we will hold the state government accountable in the session. The state government is not purchasing power nor has the capacity to generate more power. Because of lack of power supply, irrigation and other activities are suffering.”
Sources said the CM has in the upcoming budget planned changes in the ongoing schemes. While relief is expected for sugarcane farmers, state-run coaching institute for civil services aspirants from minority community, on the lines of one started by Mayawati government for such aspirants from SC community, are also likely to come up. Sources said as Ramzan is expected to start June 29, there is a request from some members to shorten the sittings of the House.
Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development.
Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity.
Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More
