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Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh has started preparations almost a year before the assembly elections. National President of the party and former Chief Minister of the state, Akhilesh Yadav, is not leaving an opportunity to corner the Yogi government. He also has plenty of opportunities to seize, which are making headlines every day. Be it smart meters, people yearning for petrol, diesel and gas or government jobs, the Yogi government is surrounded on many fronts.

There is a huge uproar regarding smart meters in UP. People are protesting in many districts. Women are plucking smart meters from their homes and throwing them on the streets. It is being claimed that the houses which used to get bill of Rs 500 per month are sometimes getting bill of Rs 1200, sometimes Rs 1500. A situation of anger is arising in many districts of UP regarding Smart Meat Tax. People are raising slogans against the government. Women are the most vocal.

Many such clips are viral on social media, in which people are sharing their problems and cornering the Yogi government. Some people are worried about the long wait at petrol pumps for petrol and diesel, some people are protesting against the government over the shortage of gas. Some people are angry with the state government regarding smart meters. Be it central or state issues, people are angry with the BJP governments on these issues.

Also read: ‘Chief Minister speaks chameleon language’, Akhilesh Yadav hits back at CM Yogi

Why is Yogi government surrounded by smart meters?

Public anger and protests are being seen in Uttar Pradesh regarding smart prepaid electricity meters. Now this issue has become an election issue. Akhilesh Yadav has announced that if his government is formed in 2027, 300 units of free electricity will be provided. Demonstrations are taking place in many cities including Lucknow. BJP MLAs have also raised their voice regarding this. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has constituted a four-member committee to investigate the matter, which has to submit the report in 10 days. A temporary ban has been imposed on the installation of new smart meters.

Despite the amendment of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) dated 1 April 2026, UPPCL is not giving consumers the option to choose prepaid or postpaid meter, which has been strongly criticized by the Consumer Council. After 70 lakh connections were converted to prepaid without consent, lakhs of consumers are facing power cuts, expensive bills and recharges, due to which people are angry. Some people complain that they are not getting enough electricity. The government is being disgraced a lot.

Also read: ‘This is the conduct of SP’, Yogi lashed out by mentioning the guest house incident

How is Akhilesh capitalizing on the strike of industrial workers?

Industrial workers are on strike in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. A few days ago, there were reports of sporadic violence during their protests. The workers were protesting regarding minimum wages, overtime and safety. These laborers come from every corner of UP. Now Akhilesh Yadav is targeting this also as an election issue.

How is expensive cylinder becoming an election issue?

Due to the war between America and Iran, ships are not passing through the Strait of Hormuz. India is not able to bring imported oil from Hormuz. America has made the situation worse. Due to the closure of Hormuz, the situation of gas and oil crisis is increasing rapidly. This crisis is deepening in UP. Now when the government suddenly increased the prices of commercial cylinders, Akhilesh Yadav cornered the Yogi government on this too.

People of UP yearning for petrol and diesel

Petrol and diesel are very difficult to get in many districts of Purvanchal. People have to wait a long time. Hoarding by some people is causing such inconvenience that the police and administration are unable to stop it. The situation is the same from Gorakhpur to Varanasi, yet proper steps are not being taken. People are also postponing their important trips. Yogi government is under siege regarding this also. Local leaders of Samajwadi Party are attacking the BJP government. SP leaders have said that this is mismanagement, which the government can correct in a day if it wants, but this is not happening.

Women’s reservation was also made an issue

On one hand, the central government is accusing the opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party that because of them the seats of women MPs did not increase and they did not get their fair share. The three bills to women’s reservation that the Central Government had brought in the House were defeated due to minority. By making it an issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also targeted the Samajwadi Party in his address to the nation. Now Akhilesh Yadav is raising questions on that intention of the government.

And on what issues are there preparations to be made?

These days, Akhilesh Yadav is openly emphasizing on Backward Classes, Dalits and Minorities (PDA). He is now trying to include Brahmins also in his camp. Recently, the upper castes had expressed their displeasure over the new guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and had strongly criticized the government, Akhilesh Yadav sees it as an opportunity. Along with upper caste politics, he is pursuing backward, Dalit and minority politics.

Akhilesh Yadav, in his statements, is attacking the government on unemployment and paper leaks. He says that the recruitments which are necessary are also being ignored. He calls the Yogi government administratively unsuccessful. Stray animals have been surrounded earlier also. He is also criticizing the BJP government on the issue of farmers. Akhilesh Yadav is strongly criticizing ‘bulldozer justice’ in the minority section. These issues can increase the problems of Yogi government.