A political confrontation in Uttar Pradesh has intensified after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's recent “chavanni” remark drew a sharp response from Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary and criticism from Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati. The exchange has revived tensions between former allies ahead of the state's next Assembly elections.

Yadav had recently referred to leaders who joined alliances with the Samajwadi Party and later left, saying the party had turned their political value from “25 paise” into “one rupee”. Although he did not name Chaudhary, the remark was widely interpreted as a reference to the RLD chief and his political journey. Yadav also indicated that the SP would now focus on strengthening its relationship with voters and pursuing its social justice agenda.

Chaudhary responded with an indirect attack on his former ally, questioning why Yadav had not named him directly if he intended to make personal remarks. He also accused the SP chief of arrogance and warned that targeting the Jat community and making such comments could have political consequences. The RLD and SP had contested the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections together before their alliance broke down, with the RLD subsequently moving towards the BJP-led NDA.

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The dispute has now drawn Mayawati into the controversy. The BSP chief criticised Yadav's “25-paise to one-rupee” remark as indecent and shameful and demanded an apology to the RLD, Chaudhary and the Jat community. She also linked the controversy to the political legacy of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and accused the SP of treating former allies with political arrogance.

Mayawati further targeted the SP's alliance record, referring to the earlier SP-BSP partnership and its subsequent breakdowns. She accused the party of using alliances for electoral gains before turning against its partners. She also criticised the SP's PDA political strategy, alleging that the party had failed to adequately represent various social groups beyond its traditional support base.

The latest exchange adds another layer to Uttar Pradesh's increasingly competitive political landscape. With the SP, RLD and BSP now positioned differently from their previous alliances, the public confrontation over the “chavanni” remark could further sharpen political differences among parties seeking influence across the state's diverse voter groups.

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