UP Power Minister AK Sharma slams Congress, SP over electricity concerns; highlights major infrastructure gains

Uttar Pradesh’s Urban Development and Energy Minister AK Sharma has gained attention for his uncompromising approach toward improving efficiency in his departments. He criticized opposition parties in the state — Congress and Samajwadi Party — accusing them of insincerity in their newfound concern over the state’s electricity situation.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Sharma wrote, “Congress and SP are now pretending to be worried about electricity in Uttar Pradesh. To those who offer unsolicited advice to others, I just want to say, before showing the mirror to others, try looking into it yourself.”

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He further condemned their past governance, stating, “Had you both shown even a quarter of today’s concern for the power sector during your long regimes, the BJP would not have inherited such a crumbling system.”

Sharma contrasted past and present performance, alleging, “The long era of Congress was a time of darkness, lit only by flickering lamps. Generations survived on neem oil lamps and kerosene lanterns. Even after four terms of SP rule, the average peak power demand from 2012 to 2017 was just 13,000 MW. Today, the three-year average is 30,000 MW—nearly two and a half times more.”

He emphasised Uttar Pradesh’s progress, stating that the state now leads the country in electricity supply, with twice as many consumers receiving power compared to 2017. Additionally, 1.5 lakh previously unelectrified hamlets have been connected to the grid.

Key improvements under the current government include power generation rising from 5,160 MW (2017) to 9,120 MW (2025);
total power availability increasing from 11,803 MW (2017) to 20,038 MW (2025); and substation capacity surging from 39,000 MVA (2017) to 2 lakh MVA—a six-fold jump.

Sharma also highlighted infrastructure upgrades, including the replacement of 1.59 lakh km of old wiring, and installation of 29 lakh new poles within three years.

Taking a dig at past mismanagement, he claimed, “During your time, power lines and poles were so few that children used them for swinging and households for drying clothes. Now electricity flows continuously. Back then, power supply once in 7-10 days used to make headlines; today, we provide 18 to 24 hours of electricity daily.”

Sharma reaffirmed the government’s commitment to an uninterrupted power supply, describing it as a mission. “We have increased production, improved distribution, and built a robust infrastructure to ensure power reaches every corner of the state,” he added.

Concluding on an optimistic note, he credited the progress to “the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the people’s support,” vowing to further enhance the power system in the state.