Akhilesh Yadav, Amit Shah Clash Over Party Leadership in Heated Lok Sabha Debate
A lively exchange took place in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Union Home Minister Amit Shah sparred over the delayed election of the next Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president. The debate, which initially centered around the Waqf Bill, quickly turned into a discussion on leadership within the ruling party, with Yadav taking a dig at the BJP’s stalled decision-making process.
#WATCH | Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav takes jibe at BJP; he said, “The party that calls itself the world’s largest party has not yet been able to choose its national president.”
Replying to him, Union HM Amit Shah said, “All the parties in front of me, their… pic.twitter.com/9zX6mAejzz
— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2025
Akhilesh Yadav’s Jibe at BJP’s Leadership Delay
With a smirk, Akhilesh Yadav targeted the BJP, saying, “A party that claims to be the biggest political organization in the world has still not been able to elect its national president.” His remark drew laughter from the opposition benches, underscoring the growing scrutiny over the BJP’s prolonged delay in naming a successor to JP Nadda.
Amit Shah’s ‘Dynast’ Counterattack
Amit Shah, known for his sharp political retorts, took the opportunity to turn the tables on the opposition. Replying with equal wit, he pointed out that many opposition parties are led by dynastic leaders rather than elected representatives.
“Akhilesh ji made his remark in jest, so I will respond in kind. The parties sitting across from us in this House all have national presidents chosen from just five family members. But in our party, we have to go through a process involving 12-13 crore members. Naturally, it takes time,” Shah remarked, drawing applause from BJP members.
Adding a playful jab, he assured Yadav that leadership continuity wouldn’t be a problem for him. “In your case, it will not take much time. I am saying that you will remain president for 25 years,” Shah quipped, eliciting further laughter in the House.
Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘75-Year-Old Limit’ Dig at Modi
The BJP has been without a new party president for nearly 10 months, ever since JP Nadda was inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet following the BJP’s 2024 Lok Sabha election victory. Yadav didn’t miss the chance to comment on this delay and took a veiled swipe at Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.
“Someone [PM Modi] undertook a ‘yatra’ to the RSS headquarters to extend the 75-year limit and save his chair,” Yadav remarked. His comment alluded to growing speculation regarding Modi’s political future as he approaches his 75th birthday this September.
Modi’s Visit to RSS Headquarters – A Political Signal?
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday was his first since assuming office in 2014. His trip has sparked political chatter, with many questioning whether the visit was an attempt to secure a leadership extension beyond the party’s unofficial age limit of 75 for holding key positions.
This has added another layer to the ongoing debate about succession within the BJP, as well as speculation about whether Modi intends to continue leading the party into future elections.
Akhilesh Yadav Accuses BJP of Dividing Muslims Over Waqf Bill
While the leadership debate dominated headlines, Akhilesh Yadav also raised concerns over the BJP’s motives behind introducing the Waqf Bill, accusing the ruling party of attempting to divide the Muslim community.
“Whenever the BJP brings up a new Bill, it hides its failure. BJP is talking about identifying the land of Muslim brothers so that the issue of identifying the Hindus who have died or gone missing in the Maha Kumbh can be covered up,” Yadav said.
He further challenged the government on the issue of missing persons, questioning why the list of approximately 1,000 Hindus who have disappeared remains unaddressed. Taking a dig at Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Yadav added, “The Union Minister should tell us about the land where China has settled its villages. But instead, to distract from this massive issue, they are bringing this bill.”
#WATCH | In the Lok Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav says “Whenever BJP brings up a new Bill, it hides its failure. BJP is talking about identifying the land of Muslim brothers so that the issue of identifying the Hindus who have died or lost in Maha Kumbh can be covered… pic.twitter.com/05k3JV5zYH
— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2025
Opposition’s Stand Against the Waqf Bill
Akhilesh Yadav made it clear that the Samajwadi Party and its allies strongly oppose the Waqf Bill, calling it part of a calculated political strategy by the BJP.
“The Waqf Bill is not being brought with any hope; it is part of a well-thought-out strategy because their vote has collapsed. They want division even among Muslims,” he alleged.
He further asserted that if the bill were put to a vote, his party would oppose it outright. “I, along with my party and allies, the Samajwadi Party, strongly oppose this bill. If voting takes place, we will vote against it,” Yadav declared.
The heated Lok Sabha debate between Akhilesh Yadav and Amit Shah showcased the deep political divisions between the opposition and the ruling BJP. While Yadav focused on BJP’s delay in electing a new president and took indirect swipes at PM Modi’s future, Amit Shah countered with remarks about dynastic politics and the complexities of BJP’s internal elections.
Meanwhile, the debate over the Waqf Bill highlighted the continuing battle over communal politics and governance strategies in India. As both sides gear up for upcoming state elections, these exchanges indicate that political discourse will remain charged in the months ahead.
