“Even If Akhilesh Yadav Puts a Bell Around a Dog, Vote for It”: SP MLC’s Remark Sparks Political Storm in UP

Lucknow: With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, political rhetoric in the state is beginning to intensify. A controversial remark by Samajwadi Party (SP) MLC Lal Bihari Yadav has triggered a fresh political row.

During a meeting with teachers, Yadav reportedly said, “If Akhilesh Yadav puts a bell around a dog’s neck, then vote for that very dog.” The unusual comment has drawn sharp reactions from rival political parties and sparked a debate over political rhetoric ahead of the elections.

SP Calls Remark a Personal View
The Samajwadi Party has sought to distance itself from the controversial statement, with party leader Deepak Ranjan describing it as Lal Bihari Yadav’s personal opinion. Ranjan said that in a democracy, voters keep track of political leaders and their statements, suggesting that there was little point in focusing excessively on individual remarks.

BJP Launches Attack on SP
The Bharatiya Janata Party has seized on the statement to attack the Samajwadi Party. BJP leader Alok Awasthi took a sarcastic dig at the SP, saying that “dogs wearing collars” could soon be seen outside the party office. He accused the SP of disrespecting democratic values and claimed that voters would give the party an appropriate response in the upcoming elections.

Congress Defends SP MLC
Congress leader Surendra Rajput, meanwhile, came to the SP MLC’s defense. Questioning the BJP’s criticism, Rajput asked why the opposition party was making an issue out of the remark. He also accused BJP leaders of focusing on statements made by leaders of other parties while dealing with internal differences within their own ranks.

SP Steps Up Ground-Level Campaign for 2027 Polls
Amid the political controversy, the Samajwadi Party is accelerating its preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Following instructions from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, the party is launching a booth-level campaign aimed at strengthening its grassroots organization. Party workers will undertake door-to-door outreach, interact directly with voters and work to consolidate support at the local level. The campaign will focus on booth management, voter outreach and strengthening the party’s election machinery as the SP begins laying the groundwork for the crucial 2027 polls.