The Samajwadi Party (SP) and its leader Akhilesh Yadav are facing criticism because of a controversial poster that shows his picture alongside Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Many BJP leaders, including the party’s IT cell head Amit Malviya, have strongly opposed the poster and called it "unacceptable." The poster shows a split image: on one side is the head and shoulders of Ambedkar, a prominent Dalit leader, and on the other side is a similar image of Yadav, with a thin white line dividing the two. "There can be no greater insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution and the symbol of the Dalit community, than to distort his face and impose Akhilesh Yadav's face on it," Amit Malviya tweeted in Hindi.

Mocking the SP president, the BJP leader jibed, "No matter how many times Akhilesh Yadav is born, he can never equal Babasaheb's greatness and his contribution to the upliftment of the deprived sections of society."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also denounced the poster, stating, “It is a reflection of SP's corrupt mentality and a deliberate attempt to insult Babasaheb, which will never be accepted by the people, and the party (SP) will face the consequences at the right time.” Asim Arun, the Minister for Social Welfare and SC/ST Welfare in Uttar Pradesh, described the poster as a grave insult. He accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of consistently neglecting the interests of Dalits and the Backward Classes. To back his statement, he recalled the cancellation of welfare schemes during Mulayam Singh Yadav's time as chief minister.

In a stinging rebuke, Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal said, “Akhilesh is not even worthy of being the dust beneath Babasaheb's feet. People of the country will not forgive him for this insult.”

Even Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati has spoken out, accusing the Samajwadi Party (SP) of engaging in “dirty politics” through such acts. So far, neither Akhilesh Yadav nor the Samajwadi Party has responded to the controversy.