Sanjay Saxena I Lucknow
In the politics of Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is seen as a sharp and outspoken leader. Akhilesh is known for speaking his mind openly. The Samajwadi Party has consistently challenged the BJP in UP, but this is only one side of Akhilesh’s politics the other side is entirely different. Whenever it comes to minorities, Akhilesh Yadav seals his lips. While in power, Akhilesh did not hesitate to withdraw cases against accused terrorists of serial blasts under the politics of appeasement. Likewise, he remains silent on incidents of ‘love jihad’ and religious conversions, while never missing an opportunity to spew venom against Hindutva, RSS, Shri Ramlala temple, Kanwariyas, and Sanatan Dharma. The limit was crossed when, in the lure of the Muslim vote bank, the SP chief even stayed silent on a controversial remark made by a Maulana against his own wife, Dimple Yadav. Perhaps he thinks it is not important that Dimple was insulted, but what is important is that speaking up against the person who insulted Dimple could upset the SP’s Muslim vote bank.
It is notable that because of this very reason, the derogatory comment made by Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Akhilesh Yadav’s wife and Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav has not only sparked a political controversy but has also posed a serious challenge for the SP. Akhilesh Yadav’s silence on this incident has not only raised questions about his leadership but has also endangered the SP’s women vote bank. This issue could become a serious crisis for the SP’s strategy and image ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
On 22 July 2025, during a meeting of SP MPs at the mosque located at Parliament Street, Maulana Sajid Rashidi made an objectionable remark about Dimple Yadav’s attire. He called Dimple a ‘political Hindu woman’ and questioned her wearing of a sari inside the mosque, accusing her of insulting the mosque. A video of this remark spread rapidly on social media, after which SP leader Pravesh Yadav filed an FIR against the Maulana at the Vibhutikhand police station in Lucknow. In his complaint, Pravesh Yadav said Maulana Sajid’s indecent comment on Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav has hurt the sentiments of society at large. This is not just an insult to the dignity of one woman, but every woman in society has been hurt by this comment. Yet, Akhilesh remained silent till the end.
Meanwhile, this controversy has given the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) an opportunity to attack the SP. BJP senior leader and Women Welfare Minister Baby Rani Maurya said at a press conference in Lucknow that the remark on Dimple Yadav is an attack on women’s dignity. Akhilesh Yadav’s silence raises questions. Has he accepted his wife’s insult for the sake of power? She further added, “This is not just an attack on the dignity of a woman MP but an assault on Indian culture. Is the SP’s silence a sign of agreement with this mindset that now Maulvis will decide the dignity of their women MPs?” In Prayagraj, former minister Siddharth Nath Singh also taunted the SP saying, “Akhilesh follows the policy of appeasement. Whether it is an insult to his family or wife, he remains silent. This sends a big message to women that their honour is not safe in the SP.”
BJP has linked Akhilesh Yadav’s silence to vote-bank politics. In Lucknow, BJP MLC Subhash Yaduvansh put up a hoarding at Atal Chowk calling Akhilesh a ‘silent chief’. The hoarding read, “One who stays silent on his wife’s insult how will he ensure the safety of the state’s sisters and daughters? Shame on you, Akhilesh Ji.” This hoarding went viral on social media, further compounding SP’s troubles. Political analysts believe this matter could create an uncomfortable situation for the SP, especially at a time when all parties are trying to win over women voters.
It must be noted that women voters have played a decisive role in recent elections in Uttar Pradesh. In the Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, BJP’s victory had a significant contribution from women-centric schemes like ‘Ladli Behna’ and ‘Ladli Laxmi’. The SP is also aware of this fact and has been working on a strategy to connect with women voters under Dimple Yadav’s leadership for the 2027 elections. In June 2025, during a meeting of the SP’s women’s wing in Lucknow, Akhilesh and Dimple planned to organise women workers at the booth level and to reach out door-to-door. But the Maulana’s remark and Akhilesh’s silence have dealt a blow to this strategy.
Political analysts believe Akhilesh’s silence can be seen as a strategic move to avoid angering the Muslim vote bank. Akhilesh made a limited response on this issue saying, “Tell me, what should we wear in the Lok Sabha? Whatever we wear in the Lok Sabha will be our dress everywhere.” This statement was in stark contrast to his usual aggressive stance on other issues. A senior SP leader, on the condition of anonymity, said the party wants to avoid religious polarisation by not giving this issue more mileage, but this silence may alienate women voters from the party.
The risk of women voters becoming disillusioned with the SP is serious because women in Uttar Pradesh participate in voting in large numbers. In the 2022 Assembly elections, the female voting percentage was higher than that of men. In such a scenario, the indecent remark on Dimple Yadav and the SP’s soft response could spread anger among women voters especially in rural areas, where Dimple’s simplicity and sari-wearing style are admired by women. This controversy could damage the SP’s image.
The BJP has raised this issue from Parliament to the streets in an attempt to corner the SP. On 28 July, NDA MPs staged a protest in the Parliament complex and raised the issue of women’s respect. In Lucknow, the BJP’s women’s wing also expressed anger over Akhilesh’s silence. This situation is more damaging for the SP because the party is already grappling with allegations of appeasement. Dimple Yadav has not made any official statement in this matter, but her supporters say her dignity and simplicity are her strength.
In this entire episode, the SP’s strategy so far has been to maintain a balance, but this balance could come at the heavy cost of losing women voters. If the SP does not adopt a clear and aggressive stance on this issue, it may have to bear its consequences in the 2027 elections. On the other hand, the BJP is trying to exploit this issue further to attract women voters towards itself. Overall, this controversy has turned into a political crisis for the SP, the impact of which will become clear in the coming time.
