Lucknow, October 16, 2025 — Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh, accusing it of mismanaging the state’s power sector and making life difficult for residents with frequent electricity cuts. He also targeted the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) over the installation of new prepaid meters.

Allegations Against the BJP Government

Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the state’s power system has been “ruined” under BJP rule. He claimed that frequent power outages are affecting households and businesses alike, discouraging investment and causing economic hardship. “Businesses face significant problems due to power outages, which is why no one wants to invest in the state. Inflation, unemployment, and corruption have reached their peak under the BJP government,” he said.

Prepaid Meters Under Fire

Yadav specifically criticized the rollout of smart prepaid meters, arguing that the policy forces consumers to bear higher costs. According to him, the UPPCL has made it mandatory to purchase a prepaid meter for new electricity connections, contrary to the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, which allows consumers to choose between prepaid and postpaid meters.

He highlighted that from September 10 to October 6, 1.74 lakh applications for new electricity connections were received, but 37,043 applications remained pending. “The Electricity Consumer Council also requested refund of the money collected from applicants until a final decision is made regarding smart prepaid meters,” he said.

Increased Connection Costs

Akhilesh Yadav pointed out that connection charges for new electricity lines have skyrocketed. “Power connections for the poor will now cost ₹6,000 instead of ₹1,000. In villages, the connection charge for 1 kilowatt of load was ₹1,172, which has increased to ₹6,216, representing a 5.3-fold increase,” he alleged.

He accused the government of favoring corporates at the expense of ordinary consumers. “The corporation is bent on imposing its unilateral decisions. Consumers are being forced to accept connections and electricity at inflated rates,” he said.

Political Implication

Yadav tied the electricity issue to broader governance failures in the state, claiming that the middle class, poor, and laborers are all suffering. He concluded that only by removing the BJP government in the 2027 elections will residents find relief.