On Friday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to reconsider his party’s support for the NDA. He highlighted the struggles faced by ‘Samajwadis’ in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP-led government has obstructed their efforts to honor socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan.
Additionally, Yadav emphasized that Kumar’s political rise is rooted in JP’s movement. This situation offers a crucial opportunity for Kumar to take action.
Moreover, Yadav noted that if it weren’t for Navratri, the bamboo barricades blocking access to the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC) would not have deterred Samajwadi supporters.
He arrived at the JPNIC on Thursday night and criticized the Yogi Adityanath government for sealing off the main entrance with tin sheets. He viewed this as a deliberate attempt to prevent access.
Yadav firmly stated, “The BJP is destructive. Whatever good you offer them, they will ruin it.” He added, “They have previously stopped us Samajwadi people. Today is the ninth day of Navratri, a festive occasion. What kind of ‘adharm’ are they committing?”
Furthermore, Yadav questioned the contradiction of the BJP celebrating the festival while restricting others. He pointed out, “If it weren’t a festival day, these wooden barricades wouldn’t have stopped the Samajwadis”.
Yadav also highlighted that many individuals with socialist values are part of the government. He remarked, “Nitish Kumar often speaks about Jayaprakash Narayan ji, he has risen in politics thanks to JP’s movement”.
Thus, this is Kumar’s chance to withdraw support from a government preventing Samajwadis from honoring JP.
Yadav emphasized the respect that Samajwadis have for JP, stating, “We have shown respect for him and will continue to do so”.
At the same time, Kumar‘s JD(U) remains aligned with the BJP-led NDA. This adds another layer to the political dynamics at play.
In a show of solidarity, Yadav honored a bust of Jayaprakash Narayan. He placed a garland on it atop a vehicle outside his residence. Notably, hundreds of party workers gathered in support after authorities blocked his visit to the JPN International Centre, citing security concerns.
Ultimately, as the legacy of Jayaprakash Narayan influences contemporary politics, he has become a central figure in the tension between the ruling BJP and opposition parties.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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