Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav is preparing to launch a statewide ‘Samajwadi PDA Rath Yatra’ as part of the party’s campaign for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the yatra likely to begin in the first week of September.
According to party sources and political discussions, the SP leadership is considering inaugurating the campaign from a major Hindu religious city, with Ayodhya, Mathura, and Varanasi emerging as possible starting points. While the party has not officially confirmed the venue, the proposal is reportedly under deliberation.
The planned yatra is expected to serve as the Samajwadi Party’s flagship outreach programme ahead of the Assembly polls. Political observers view the possible choice of a prominent religious destination as part of the party’s broader strategy to expand its appeal while challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on issues related to governance and public sentiment.
The campaign is expected to cover all 403 Assembly constituencies across Uttar Pradesh’s 75 districts, making it one of the party’s largest statewide political mobilisations in recent years.
According to reports, the yatra will place special emphasis on western Uttar Pradesh, particularly Jat- and Gurjar-dominated regions, including parts of the Bulandshahr and Moradabad divisions, as the party seeks to strengthen its social coalition ahead of the elections.
Akhilesh Yadav is expected to personally lead the campaign, while senior party leaders, including Dimple Yadav, Leader of the Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, Shivpal Singh Yadav, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and district presidents are likely to participate in the statewide outreach.
The campaign will revolve around the party’s PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) theme, highlighting issues concerning backward classes, Dalits, and minorities. The Samajwadi Party is also expected to focus on matters such as law and order, governance, and other public issues during the yatra.
The SP enters the 2027 election campaign after a strong performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it emerged as the largest party in Uttar Pradesh in terms of seats won. With both the ruling BJP and the opposition stepping up organisational activities well ahead of the polls, the announcement of the proposed Rath Yatra signals the beginning of an intense political campaign in the state.
While the party has yet to formally announce the detailed route and schedule, preparations for the statewide political tour are reportedly underway, with an official announcement expected in the coming weeks.
