SP adopts blue dress code for student wing, announces campus outreach drive
Samajwadi Party's student wing gets a blue T-shirt and jeans uniform as Akhilesh Yadav pushes his PDA outreach strategy.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced a new dress code for its student wing, the Chhatra Sabha, replacing the traditional red shirts and kurtas with blue T-shirts and jeans. Party president Akhilesh Yadav made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday, framing the change as a reflection of the evolving mindset of the youth.
"When the new generation has a new way of thinking, then their uniform should also be new," Mr. Yadav said. He added that the attire provides a distinct identity while symbolising the party's socialist values and its commitment to the 'Bahujan Samaj'. The colour blue is traditionally associated with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Mayawati.
Alongside the uniform change, the SP chief announced a two-week student awareness campaign. Members of the student wing will visit universities, colleges, and hostels across the state to connect young people with the party's PDA movement. The acronym PDA, coined by Mr. Yadav in 2023, stands for 'Pichhde' (backward classes), Dalits, and 'Alpsankhyak' (minorities).
Elaborating on the concept, Mr. Yadav described PDA as a progressive, positive, and democratic force that supports affirmative action. "It is about bringing people together, increasing brotherhood, strengthening social harmony, democratic values and following the Constitution," he stated, asserting that the coalition aims to establish a government rooted in social justice.
SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Yadav 'Sajan' defended the colour choice, stating that blue signifies socialist values and the idea of equality. He described the move as a progressive step for broader outreach, aimed at uniting sections of society facing oppression and marginalisation from what he termed as feudal forces supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The announcement comes as the state gears up for the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for 2027.