The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly recently conducted a special 24-hour session, intended to highlight the state government’s commitment to addressing key issues and passing important legislation. However, the event took a political turn when Samajwadi Party president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav accused several ministers from the ruling party of sleeping during proceedings.
Speaking to the media, Yadav claimed that despite the historic nature of the marathon session, many members of the treasury benches were visibly disengaged. According to him, instead of participating in debates and contributing to policy discussions, some ministers appeared to be resting in their seats. This, he argued, reflected poorly on the government’s seriousness about governance.
The 24-hour session was organised with the stated aim of addressing important issues such as infrastructure development, public welfare schemes, and economic growth in Uttar Pradesh. It also provided a platform for legislators to raise constituency-level concerns and suggest reforms. However, Yadav questioned the effectiveness of such extended sittings, arguing that the government’s focus should be on results rather than symbolic displays of dedication.
The former chief minister further accused the ruling party of using such events for political optics rather than genuine legislative work. He pointed out that while the government claims to be working tirelessly for the people, the reality inside the Assembly paints a different picture. Yadav also took the opportunity to draw attention to what he described as unfulfilled promises, including job creation, farmer welfare measures, and improved public services.
His remarks quickly gained traction in political circles and on social media, where images and videos from the Assembly session were widely shared. Supporters of the Samajwadi Party echoed Yadav’s criticism, while members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party defended their performance, dismissing the comments as political posturing.
BJP leaders responded by stating that the session was a significant demonstration of their government’s commitment to transparency and legislative productivity. They claimed that the majority of ministers and MLAs were fully engaged and that any isolated incidents should not undermine the broader achievement of holding such a long session.
Political analysts noted that marathon Assembly sessions are often used as symbolic tools to project diligence and commitment to governance. However, they also pointed out that without substantive debate and follow-up action, such events risk being reduced to political spectacles. The exchange between Yadav and the BJP highlights the ongoing rivalry between the two parties in Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape, where every public platform becomes a battleground for influence.
The incident is likely to add fuel to political debates ahead of upcoming elections in the state. As both the Samajwadi Party and BJP continue to engage in public sparring, the larger question remains whether such extended sessions will translate into tangible benefits for the people of Uttar Pradesh or remain another flashpoint in partisan politics.
