by Sanjay Saxena For the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to return to power. The foundation of SP’s politics in Uttar Pradesh has long rested on the Muslim-Yadav (M-Y) alliance established by Mulayam Singh Yadav. It was this formula that enabled Mulayam Singh to become Chief Minister three times and Akhilesh Yadav once. However, since 2014, the changing political landscape in Uttar Pradesh has posed new challenges for SP. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has succeeded in uniting various Hindu castes under the umbrella of Hindutva, thereby weakening SP’s traditional strategy. Akhilesh Yadav is now trying to reshape his party’s image in this new political environment and secure broader social support. As part of this strategy, he is scheduled to perform *jalabhishek* (ritual offering of water) at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the first Monday of Sawan, 14 July 2025 a move seen in political circles as a soft Hindutva strategy.
The month of Sawan, which begins on 11 July 2025, holds special religious significance in North India. During this period, lakhs of devotees carry Ganga water from Haridwar and undertake the Kanwar Yatra to offer it to Lord Shiva in various temples. Kashi, considered the city of Lord Shiva, becomes a major pilgrimage site during Sawan. Especially on Mondays, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple witnesses a massive influx of devotees. This year, on the first Monday of Sawan, Akhilesh Yadav will perform *jalabhishek* at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Around 50,000 Yadav community members from across the country are expected to join this event. The event is being organized under the banner of the Chandravanshi Gop Samiti, whose delegation recently met Akhilesh in Lucknow and invited him to participate in the religious ceremony.
The tradition of jalabhishek by the Yadav community on the first Monday of Sawan in Kashi dates back to 1952, initiated by the late Teju Sardar. Every year, members of the Yadav community offer Ganga water to Baba Vishwanath after visiting temples such as Gauri Kedareshwar and Tilbhandeshwar, and collecting water from Dashashwamedh Ghat. The pilgrimage concludes after visiting temples like Mrityunjay Mahadev, Trilochan Mahadev, and Kal Bhairav. Akhilesh Yadav’s participation in this event has sparked considerable discussion in political circles. This step not only reflects his religious devotion but is also seen as part of a larger strategy to break SP’s image of Muslim appeasement and enhance the party’s acceptability among followers of Sanatan Dharma.
This strategy by Akhilesh Yadav is also a move to steer the party away from the image built during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s era. Mulayam had built the SP’s foundation on Muslim and Yadav votes, but this equation is no longer sufficient in today’s political climate. The BJP has succeeded in unifying various Hindu castes under its Hindutva agenda. Persistent allegations of Yadav-centric politics and Muslim appeasement have made Akhilesh’s path to power more difficult. Particularly, discontent among Brahmin and Thakur communities has grown, partly due to some of Akhilesh’s past statements that were perceived as being against them. In this context, Akhilesh’s decision to perform *jalabhishek* at Kashi Vishwanath Temple is an effort to boost the SP’s acceptability among the larger Hindu population that believes in Sanatan Dharma.
Political analysts believe that since 2014, the influence of Hindutva has significantly increased in Indian politics. The BJP has been successful in consolidating Hindu voters, which has pushed opposition parties to adopt religious symbols and soft Hindutva in response. Akhilesh Yadav’s Kashi visit is part of this changing political landscape. He aims not only to strengthen his traditional Yadav vote base but also to garner support from other Hindu communities, especially those who resonate with Sanatan Dharma. However, stepping onto BJP’s turf and trying to compete on its narrative won’t be easy for SP. BJP has firmly established itself as the preferred choice among Hindu voters, and only time will tell whether SP’s soft Hindutva gamble will pay off.
At the same time, Akhilesh Yadav is also attempting to reinforce the agenda of social justice. Instead of being vocal about issues concerning the Muslim community, he is now emphasizing social inclusiveness and the PDA formula. His *jalabhishek* at Kashi is not only a religious act but also politically significant. It provides SP a chance to counter BJP’s Hindutva narrative and increase its acceptability among the broader Hindu population. However, the success of this strategy will depend on how effectively Akhilesh can rebrand his party’s old image and challenge BJP’s political framework.
In conclusion, Akhilesh Yadav’s decision to perform jalabhishek at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the first Monday of Sawan is a calculated political move. It reflects his evolving political strategy, where he is trying to move beyond the traditional M-Y alliance and adopt the symbols of Sanatan Dharma to garner wider social support. How successful this strategy proves ahead of the 2027 assembly elections remains to be seen, but it is clear that Akhilesh Yadav is making a conscious effort to bring a new dimension to Uttar Pradesh politics.
