Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party government of turning Uttar Pradesh into a “BIMARU” state through administrative incompetence, corruption and the poor execution of major infrastructure projects.
Yadav said expressways built at a cost of thousands of crores of rupees had developed structural problems even before formal inauguration, while newly constructed overhead water tanks had collapsed. He cited these incidents as evidence of weak supervision, compromised construction standards and failures in governance.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also linked his attack to allegations of financial irregularities involving donations intended for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He claimed the controversy had exposed the conduct of individuals associated with the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
The allegations remain politically contested, and the BJP has rejected opposition attempts to connect the party and its wider ideological network with suspected wrongdoing. The dispute has intensified after claims concerning the alleged misappropriation of temple donations triggered calls for investigation and accountability.
Yadav said the BJP had promised world-class development in Ayodhya and a temple complex that would rank among the finest religious sites. Instead, he alleged, the city and the Ram Janmabhoomi temple had been subjected to embarrassment because of what he described as the theft of religious funds.
He accused the governing party of issuing diversionary statements to shift attention from the controversy. Public disenchantment with the BJP and its allies was increasing, he claimed, while those involved in the alleged financial misconduct were attempting to protect themselves.
The criticism came as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath mounted a contrasting defence of his government’s record. Addressing a programme in Lucknow marking World Youth Skills Day, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh itself had never been a BIMARU state. He argued that governments before 2017 had been deficient in their thinking and performance.
Adityanath accused the previous administration of neglecting young people, failing to develop skills and allowing recruitment processes to be distorted by favouritism and corruption. He said educational opportunities were limited, employment prospects were weak and workers were forced to migrate because of inadequate economic opportunities.
The chief minister said his government had provided nine lakh government jobs through transparent recruitment since taking office in 2017. More than 3.5 crore young people and artisans had also been connected with employment or self-employment opportunities, he said.
Training institutions across Uttar Pradesh are being expanded to cover artificial intelligence, robotics, drone technology, three-dimensional printing and semiconductor manufacturing. The government plans to extend such facilities beyond large urban centres to districts including Mahoba, Chitrakoot, Sonbhadra, Ballia and Bahraich.
Adityanath also highlighted the BrahMos missile manufacturing project in Lucknow as a source of skilled employment. Around 500 trained young people from several districts have secured jobs through campus recruitment linked to the project.
The rival claims reflect an intensifying contest over Uttar Pradesh’s economic and administrative record ahead of the 2027 Assembly election. The BJP is seeking a third consecutive term under Adityanath, while the Samajwadi Party is attempting to build on its improved performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Development, employment, law and order, infrastructure quality and the management of public funds are expected to dominate the campaign. The BJP has repeatedly presented Uttar Pradesh as a state transformed from economic backwardness into a major investment and manufacturing destination.
The opposition, however, has questioned whether headline investment announcements have produced sufficient jobs and broad-based gains. It has also focused on recruitment delays, examination paper leaks, unemployment, inflation and alleged corruption in public works.
The term BIMARU was originally coined to describe Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, which had historically lagged behind several other states on economic and social indicators. Its political use has remained contentious because Uttar Pradesh has recorded gains in infrastructure, welfare coverage and economic output while continuing to face major challenges in per-capita income, employment, education and healthcare.
