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‘This movement has made people more aware': Akhilesh Yadav on youth, CJP and recent protests
Gen Z and the younger generation are clear about what they want, Akhilesh Yadav said at HT Leadership Summit, adding that they do not want false promises.
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The Samajwadi Party has always stood with young people, said party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday, when asked about his views on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the protests led by the outfit, one of which led to the resignation of education minister over examination irregularities.
“When these young people saw how the government was playing with their children's futures, they came out and protested. Not just the students, but their parents also joined them. This movement has made people more aware,” Akhilesh Yadav said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026. Track live here
Gen Z and the younger generation are clear about what they want, he said, adding that they do not want false promises. “They want clarity about what is possible and what is not.”
“Given the reach of social media and the penetration of the internet in society today, you cannot get away with lying to people. Ultimately, even the Prime Minister had to acknowledge the issue, and a minister had to be removed. That was the biggest achievement of the youth,” Yadav said.
He said he was happy to see youth from UP and Bihar turn up in large numbers to the protests.
“I am happy that during the protests, young people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar came to Delhi in large numbers and participated. They came on their own. Nobody helped them or made arrangements for their food, water, accommodation…,” Yadav said.
Akhilesh on UP polls, seat-sharing with Congress
Speaking on the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and the seat-sharing plans with INDIA bloc ally Congress, Akhilesh Yadav said party is seeking 181 of the 403 assembly seats ahead of the polls due early next year.
Yadav said the SP has decided how many seats it will contest and underlined that the goal is to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“Rule and reality will change in UP,” he said at the HT Leadership Summit 2026, alluding to the summit’s theme of “New Rules. New Realities”.
He emphasised the "very good" relationship with the Congress when asked how many seats it has asked to fight on, and whether it was 100. "The number of seats they have asked for is higher than what you are suggesting."
