In SP chief whip’s resignation, Akhilesh’s balancing act in party’s Moradabad unit

4 min readLucknowUpdated: Jul 1, 2026 04:37 AM IST

As the SP begins preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections, ensuring coordination between organisational leaders and elected representatives is likely to remain a key organisational challenge.

In a surprise move, Samajwadi Party MLA Kamal Akhtar on Tuesday resigned as the party’s chief whip in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Speaking to mediapersons, the MLA from Kanth said he resigned from the post at the direction of party president Akhilesh Yadav.

“Changes take place in every party, and the organisation keeps on happening. There is no post that is permanent. There was a direction from my leader, Akhilesh Yadav, that you no longer have to continue in this post, and new people should get the opportunity. There is no resentment. I am a worker and would continue to work as one,” Akhtar said.

Akhtar was appointed chief whip in July 2024 after the then chief whip, Manoj Pandey, rebelled during the Rajya Sabha elections and submitted his resignation.

However, within the party, Akhtar’s resignation as chief whip is being seen as “more than a routine organisational change”. Party leaders said the decision was rooted in the growing friction between the party’s parliamentary and organisational leadership in Moradabad, with the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav trying to balance power equations in the region ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.

SP leaders said that there were persistent complaints from Moradabad MP Ruchi Veera over the functioning of the party’s district unit.

“Veera had repeatedly expressed displeasure to the leadership that local SP leaders and workers were taking instructions from senior MLAs, rather than coordinating with her, despite her being the Lok Sabha representative from Moradabad,” an SP leader said.

Story continues below this ad

While Akhtar on Tuesday tried to de-link issues raised by Veera and his resignation, saying they should not be mixed, the Moradabad MP said she had made the party chief aware of the ongoing situation in the district unit.

“The SP chief knew about the indiscipline. He (Yadav) has been giving various directions to the party leaders for the upcoming Assembly elections, and he must have taken the step taken after giving much thought to it,” Veera added.

Sources said that both the leaders were called to Lucknow by Akhilesh Yadav as allegations and counter-allegations were increasing.

Party insiders, however, claimed that Akhtar had for some time expressed his desire to be relieved of the additional responsibility, and the Moradabad dispute provided the leadership an opportunity to reorganise responsibilities while addressing concerns raised by the local MP.

Story continues below this ad

The issue had also briefly entered the political discourse after Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief and Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar claimed that differences existed within the SP leadership, including involving the Moradabad MP. However, Veera had then publicly rejected Rajbhar’s claims.

Veera, considered close to senior SP leader Azam Khan, was fielded by the party from Moradabad in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in place of sitting MP and veteran leader S T Hasan. She went on to defeat BJP’s S K Singh by over 1 lakh votes.

Akhtar, on the other hand, is one of the SP’s prominent faces in Moradabad district. He won the Kanth Assembly seat in 2022 by defeating the sitting BJP MLA by around 43,000 votes and is regarded as an influential organisational man with close access to the party leadership.

During the SP government from 2012 to 2017, he was a minister with significant portfolios like Panchayati Raj, and Food and Civil Supplies.

Story continues below this ad

Interestingly, Akhtar’s appointment as chief whip last year had come at a politically sensitive moment. Manoj Pandey’s rebellion during the Rajya Sabha elections had embarrassed the SP, prompting Akhilesh Yadav to entrust the responsibility to a loyalist.

As the SP begins preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections, ensuring coordination between organisational leaders and elected representatives is likely to remain a key organisational challenge.

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development.

Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity.

Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:

Akhilesh Yadav

lucknow

Samajwadi Party

Uttar Pradesh Assembly