Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s criticism of internal politics within the Uttar Pradesh BJP drew a sharp response from Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday. Yadav had alleged that governance in the state had become a casualty due to the reported rift between Maurya and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Maurya countered by asserting that the BJP has a strong organization and government both in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre. He also took a jibe at Yadav's party, stating, “the return of Samajwadi Party’s hooliganism in UP is impossible.”
The exchange of words followed Yadav’s remarks on the state’s administration issues, citing hasty decisions and corruption. He specifically criticized the recent teacher appointment decisions and claimed that BJP's internal conflict was causing governance issues. Yadav's comments came after Keshav Maurya's meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda, which spurred speculation about a rift within the party. In response, Maurya emphasized BJP’s stability and dismissed the allegations as baseless, reaffirming the party's commitment to strong governance and their plans to win the 2027 assembly polls with a significant majority.