The ‘ABCD’ battle has taken center stage in Uttar Pradesh’s political arena after a recent remark by Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav.
When Akhilesh used the ‘ABCD’ analogy to corner the ruling BJP, state cabinet minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party( SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar fired back with his version, turning the spotlight on the SP’s governance in the past. “If the Samajwadi Party truly understood the real ABCD, it wouldn’t be out of power today,” he quipped.
According to Rajbhar, the ‘ABCD’ followed by the SP during its tenure pushed the state back. He said in the SP regime, ‘A’ stands for Araajakata, ‘B’ for Bharshtachar, ‘C’ for Chori, and ‘D’ for Dalali, the true identity, he claimed, of their (SP’s) governance. He accused the Opposition party of destabilizing administration, institutionalizing corruption, shielding criminals, and prioritizing favoritism and brokerage in decision-making.
Rajbhar described SP’s policies as casteist, nepotistic, and disorganized, extending his analogy to ‘Y’ for Yadavism and ‘Z’ for zero change.
The minister particularly focused on the state of education under the SP rule. He alleged during Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure, government schools were infamous not for quality learning, but for the copying mafia and recruitment scams. In five years, not a single school was built that could inspire future generations. Broken walls, collapsing roofs, filthy toilets, and falling student numbers- this was the true face of education back then,” Rajbhar charged.
In contrast, Rajbhar highlighted that the BJP government has brought “revolutionary” changes to education. Under Operation Kayakalp, ₹11,500 crore has been invested to upgrade facilities in over 96% of government schools. This year, the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ led to the enrollment of more than 27 lakh new students, reflecting growing public trust in the system. Moreover, under the Chief Minister Model Composite School Scheme, two modern schools are being established in every district, each costing ₹30 crore, offering KG-to-12 education in line with the National Education Policy 2020.
Rajbhar further highlighted that under the Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya Yojana, schools have been established in all 18 divisions of the state, where over 18,000 children of workers and orphans are receiving free residential education, along with sports facilities, skill training, and access to modern laboratories. In addition, 1,722 PM-Shri schools in Uttar Pradesh have been equipped with smart classes, digital libraries, ICT labs, and project-based learning systems. Special focus has been placed on girls’ education, with Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas upgraded to include modern amenities.
He asserted that under the Yogi government, the education system has become more transparent, accountable, and quality-driven. Citing the ASER 2024 and PARAKH survey reports, Rajbhar noted that Class 3 students in Uttar Pradesh are now performing above the national average. From teacher and student attendance to resource monitoring, every aspect of the system is being digitally tracked through the Prerna Portal.
Taking a swipe at the previous Samajwadi Party government, Rajbhar alleged that education back then was trapped in the grip of casteism, appeasement, and the copying mafia. “In the SP rule, the temples of learning crumbled; in the BJP rule, the lamps of knowledge were lit,” he remarked. He further said, “Akhilesh Yadav shut schools, we opened new ones for children. They kept 3.45 crore children away from education, we brought them back to books and classrooms.”