Posters inspired by the Bollywood movie Dhurandhar, targeting Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have surfaced in various areas of Lucknow and Amethi, sparking a political controversy ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The posters, seen outside Amethi railway station and at strategic intersections, display messages such as “What do you want? Akhilesh’s Lyari rule” with a picture of Akhilesh Yadav, and “Dhurandhar CM” featuring Yogi Adityanath.
These posters reference Lyari, a neighborhood in Karachi, Pakistan, known for past gang conflicts and violence, as depicted in the movie Dhurandhar. Erected by a group named “Youth Against Mafia,” the billboards juxtapose instances of unrest during Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership with the current government’s tough stance on crime under Yogi Adityanath.
Abhinav Tiwari, the group’s general secretary, stated that the campaign aims to educate Generation Z about historical law and order challenges in Uttar Pradesh, like the Muzaffarnagar and Shamli riots, in comparison to the present situation. He clarified that they are an independent student organization without affiliations to any political party.
Additionally, the posters showcase the names and photos of the organization’s key members, including the executive president, general secretary, and Pratapgarh in-charge. Similar billboards were also reported in various spots in Lucknow recently.
The Samajwadi Party has criticized the campaign, denouncing it as a form of political retaliation. Amethi district spokesperson Rajesh Mishra accused the ruling BJP of resorting to such tactics due to their alleged frustration and desperation, claiming that the public is well-informed about such attempts to manipulate voters.
Authorities have been alerted about the posters, with Amethi police station in-charge Ravi Singh confirming that a team has been dispatched to investigate the matter.