Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav is celebrating his birthday today on Wednesday. Top leaders of the state like Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Mayawati were also among those who wished him on his birthday. However, on Akhilesh's birthday, which falls before the assembly elections to be held in the state next year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has tried to give a big political message while wishing him on his birthday.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi tried to include political flavor in his greeting message to Akhilesh today. Both Congress and Samajwadi Party are part of the India Alliance and are preparing to contest the elections in UP next year together. However, statements of leaders from both sides are continuously coming out regarding seat sharing.
But Rahul Gandhi gave his message to both the parties by mentioning PDA on Akhilesh's birthday. He said in his post on social media platform
very happy birthday @yadavakhilesh Yes.
With the participation of PDA, we will together fulfill the resolve of social justice. Best wishes for good health and happy life.
—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 1, 2026
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh has been raising the slogan of PDA in the state politics for a long time. Akhilesh's PDA means backward, Dalit and minority. It was Akhilesh's PDA which gave a big blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and surprised everyone by winning the maximum number of seats in the state.
Although SP is preparing to contest the elections in the name of PDA with Congress before the 2027 assembly elections, there is rhetoric between both the parties regarding seat sharing. Congress MP Imran Masood is constantly vocal in this matter and had recently claimed that Congress will contest the elections alone on all 403 seats in the state.
Similarly, Congress in-charge in UP Rajendra Pal Gautam had also said recently, "The distribution of seats between the two parties should be on 50-50 formula only. The share will be equal, only then the respect will also be equal.
Apart from such claims by Congress leaders, no reaction was expressed from Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh. It is believed that no statement of any kind will be given until the issue is discussed at the top level of both the parties.
SP leader and former MLC Udayveer Singh says that Akhilesh Yadav has already said that like 2024, he will contest elections with Congress in 2027 also. On seat-sharing, Udayveer said that such issues are always discussed directly by the top leadership of both the parties.
