Mangesh Yadav Encounter: While opposing Yogi, has Akhilesh stood at the wrong goalpost?

These days a new front has opened up between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is attacking the government over the encounter of Mangesh Yadav, accused in the robbery at a jewellery shop in Sultanpur. Akhilesh has now raised questions about the slippers, calling Mangesh’s encounter fake.

He said that if he had brains, he would not have done encounters in slippers. After Akhilesh’s slipper angle, the state’s Director General of Police Prashant Kumar held a press conference and released CCTV footage and photographs in clarification and claimed to have evidence. In such a situation, questions are being raised whether Akhilesh Yadav has stood at the wrong goalpost while opposing CM Yogi?

Yogi was given a chance to play on the front foot

In the Lok Sabha elections, BJP lost 29 seats in UP as compared to 62 in 2019. BJP could win only 33 seats, after which fingers started pointing towards CM Yogi from the organization to the government. After the Lok Sabha elections, by-elections are now to be held for 10 vacant assembly seats in UP and CM Yogi has set a target of winning all 10 seats. Before these by-elections, which are taking the shape of Yogi vs Akhilesh, the questions of the SP chief regarding the Mangesh Yadav encounter have given the CM an opportunity to play on the front foot.

BJP and Yogi are aggressive on the issue of law and order

BJP has opened a front against SP and Akhilesh on the pretext of Mangesh Yadav encounter. CM Yogi himself, while addressing a rally in Katehari assembly constituency, had raised questions about the questions raised by the SP chief without naming him. CM Yogi had said, “Why does SP feel bad if a dacoit is killed in a police encounter? If the dacoits are not traced, they say there is anarchy. If a dacoit is killed in an encounter, they say this should not happen. They should be asked what should happen?”

Also read: ‘It would be better if he remains silent…’, Akhilesh’s reply to CM Yogi on Mangesh Yadav encounter, said this

While questioning Akhilesh for supporting the accused of robbery, CM Yogi also said, “SP has nothing to do with the safety of daughters and businessmen. When a robber is killed in an encounter, they start shouting as if the police has touched their sore spot.” BJP has been attacking SP on the issue of law and order and law and order is considered to be the main basis of Yogi Adityanath’s popularity. Now Akhilesh’s questions have brought SP to the pitch on which CM Yogi is considered strong.

Fits the Yadav card but among other castes?

SP chief Akhilesh, while raising questions on the Mangesh Yadav encounter, also said that most of the encounters were of PDA. He also said that when the police itself is saying that Mangesh was not the mastermind, then why was the mastermind not encountered? BJP and CM Yogi have also become active to counter Akhilesh’s PDA card.

Also read: ‘Mangesh Yadav has been murdered’, Akhilesh Yadav said on Sultanpur encounter

CM Yogi said, “If the dacoit who was killed had shot the customers, would SP have been able to return their lives? The customer could have been a Yadav, Dalit or from any caste.” This is also being said to be the effect of the Lok Sabha election results. After the BJP’s review meetings, one of the reasons for the loss was said to be not trying to counter the opposition’s narrative.

Now before the by-elections of 10 assembly seats, CM Yogi and BJP do not want to repeat the mistake of the Lok Sabha elections. BJP’s strategy may be to limit Akhilesh’s stand in the Mangesh Yadav case to just the Yadav card and not the PDA.