A’ in PDA should stand for Asaduddin Owaisi, says Shadab Chauhan
Lucknow, August 31: AIMIM leader Shadab Chauhan has said that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav would need the support of AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi if he wants to win the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and become Chief Minister.
Chauhan claimed that Akhilesh Yadav could not realistically aspire to become Chief Minister without Owaisi’s support. His remarks come at a time when political parties in Uttar Pradesh are preparing their strategies ahead of the Assembly elections expected next year.
Chauhan also referred to the ‘PDA’ political strategy associated with Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party. The party uses PDA to refer to Pichhde, Dalit and Alpsankhyak communities, representing backward classes, Dalits and minorities.
Taking a different interpretation of the acronym, Chauhan said the letter ‘A’ in PDA should represent Asaduddin Owaisi.
“If Akhilesh Yadav wants to become Chief Minister, he will have to seek Asaduddin Owaisi’s support. As long as the ‘A’ in PDA does not represent Asaduddin Owaisi, he cannot even dream of coming to power,” Chauhan said.
The AIMIM leader further said that Muslim voters were seeking political representation that reflected their interests. He argued that Akhilesh Yadav’s electoral strategy would remain incomplete without Owaisi.
Chauhan also described AIMIM as an important political alternative in Uttar Pradesh and suggested that cooperation with Owaisi’s party could strengthen Akhilesh Yadav’s electoral prospects.
The comments have triggered political discussion in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the next Assembly elections.