Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday mounted a sharp critique of the BJP-led government, questioning the basis of the proposed women’s reservation and alleging widespread distress caused by prepaid electricity meters in Uttar Pradesh.
In a series of messages posted on his WhatsApp channel, Yadav argued that the absence of updated population data undermines the credibility of the Women’s Reservation Bill.
“If the counting itself is wrong, how can the reservation be correct?” he said, stressing that any quota system based on outdated figures lacks legitimacy.
The Samajwadi Party leader took aim at the continued reliance on 2011 Census data, noting that reservation is fundamentally a matter of mathematical allocation that must be grounded in accurate and current numbers.
“If the basis of reservation is one-third of the total seats, then it becomes a matter of mathematics—and mathematics is based on numbers, not vague assumptions,” he said. Using an analogy, he added, “When the foundation is faulty, how can a good crop grow?”
Reiterating his party’s demand, Yadav said a nationwide census must precede the implementation of women’s reservation.
“A government that does not want to count women—how will it give them reservation?” he asked, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies of attempting to mislead women voters. “We will not allow the deception…until there is a census, there should be no discussion on women’s reservation,” he asserted.
Shifting focus to electricity issues, Yadav alleged that the rollout of prepaid and smart meters in Uttar Pradesh has led to consumer hardship. He coined the term “prepaid victims” for users who, despite paying in advance, face frequent outages due to technical faults. “People who have installed prepaid meters are being forced to endure darkness and heat because of flaws in smart meters,” he said.
Questioning the role of the government and power companies, he asked why consumers are being “harassed” despite upfront payments. Yadav alleged that advance billing reduces incentives for companies to address complaints, leaving “poor citizens” with little recourse. “There is no hearing… because they are already colluding and making money,” he claimed.
Intensifying his attack, Yadav said that under BJP rule, citizens have effectively become “sufferers” rather than consumers, bearing the consequences of what he described as a “manipulated government.”
Linking the issues to his party’s broader PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) plank, he claimed that growing public discontent is widening its support base. “Whoever is oppressed belongs to PDA,” he said, adding that those affected by prepaid meter problems are increasingly aligning with this narrative.
Striking a political note ahead of upcoming electoral contests, Yadav expressed confidence in a shift in public mood. “These new ‘prepaid victims’ are saying: don’t worry—the bad days are about to end,” he said, concluding with a promise of a future government that would “ensure electricity for everyone.”