As by-elections to nine UP Assembly constituencies approach, the ongoing war of words over political slogans appears to have further intensified with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday targeting the minister in leader Yogi Adityanath for the latter’s controversial “batenge to katenge” (division). will harm the interests of Hindus), calling the CM’s comments a “negative slogan” which symbolized “disappointment and failure”.

Yadav, in a post on X, without naming the chief minister or any other SP leader, said, “His ‘negative slogan’ is a symbol of his disappointment and failure. He said: “This slogan has proven that the remaining 10% voters are also on the verge of leaving, that is why they are trying to unite them by scaring them, but nothing like that will happen.

“The ‘negative slogans’ also have an impact, in fact, after this ‘disappointed slogan’, their remaining supporters are even more disappointed thinking that those we thought were powerful are talking about weakness even if they are in power. The “ideal state” imagined in our country is based on “abhay” (fearlessness); not “bhay” (fear). It is true that only the “fearful” sell “fear”, because everyone sells what they can have.

“This slogan will go down in the country’s history as the ‘worst slogan’ and will prove to be the final ‘literal nail’ in the final chapter of its political downfall.

“For the sake of the country and society, they should change their advisors and their negative outlook and attitudes; it will also benefit them. Good advice is that “if you nourish something, nourish good thoughts” and keep your sleeves open as well as your arms, it’s good for them. Today’s positive society, we don’t want the BJP! #NoToNegativePolitics,” Yadav wrote in his article on X translated from Hindi.

The SP came up with slogans “judenge to jitenge” (unity will bring us victory) which were displayed on posters and billboards to provoke unity among the Picchras (upside down), Dalits and of the Alpsankhyak (minorities) of the SP (PDA) base of support.

BSP chief Mayawati hit back at BJP and SP for issuing these slogans and said both parties and their alliances were upset following the BSP’s decision to contest the by-elections in nine Assembly constituencies . Mayawati said this

the slogans were just diversionary tactics and changed them to say “BSP se Judenge to aage badhenge va surakshit rahenge” (If you join hands with BSP, there will be progress).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already, in a way, lent his support to Yogi Adityanath’s slogan with the ‘Ek Hai to Safe Hai’ observations. RSS’s Dattatreya Hosabale also supported the CM’s observations and targeted Rahul Gandhi, saying the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha had spoken about ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan’ but stayed away from the RSS.