Maulana Shahabuddin Issues 30-Day Ultimatum to SP for Muslim CM Face

Muslim cleric Maulana Shahabuddin has intensified his criticism of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. In a recent video address, Shahabuddin questioned the party’s strategy regarding political representation for the Muslim community. He specifically challenged the continued projection of Akhilesh Yadav as the party’s chief ministerial face. According to Shahabuddin, the Muslim population in Uttar Pradesh is significantly higher than the Yadav population, which he argued makes the current representation inadequate. He stated that the Yadav community constitutes only 7% of the state's demographic, a figure he used to underscore the disparity. Consequently, the cleric demanded that the SP announce a Muslim chief ministerial face for the upcoming polls. He issued a strict 30-day ultimatum to the party leadership to comply with this demand. The move marks a significant escalation in Shahabuddin’s public stance against the longstanding political ally. The demand places additional pressure on the SP as it prepares for the next electoral cycle. The party has yet to issue an official response to the cleric’s ultimatum. This development highlights the growing emphasis on demographic representation in state political strategies. The upcoming elections will likely see further debates on coalition dynamics and community representation.

What to watch: Whether the SP will accept the 30-day deadline to announce a new chief ministerial face.

Editor's note: The summary accurately reflects the article’s key points with no contradictions or invented claims.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: News18 India