Akhilesh Yadav is being seen as the most credible challenger to Yogi Adityanath in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, 2022. The Samajwadi Party which he is leading as national convenor is drawing significant crowds during its various "Vijay yatra" public rallies and meetings and is also tying up with smaller parties to strengthen its base in Uttar Pradesh.

However, detractors from political parties and voters say that his increased appearances and political comments are simply a pre-poll show and do not reflect his deep roots in the state or commitment to issues. Mayawati and Priyanka Gandhi Of The BSP and Congress have taken jibes at the Samajwadi Party and at each other, but TMC chief Mamata Banerjeestated that she and her party are ready to extend help to Akhilesh Yadav in the Uttar Pradesh elections.

The Samajwadi party is being seen by many as a significant counter-weight in the upcoming UP Elections to be held in 2022.

Akhilesh Yadav has been proactive in his public appearances although it has also been criticized by Priyanka Gandhi (Congress) and Mayawati (BSP) as a pre-poll gimmick

While Congress Has No Clear Stand On Caste Census, Samajwadi Party Has Come Out In Support Of It, Being Seen As A Genuine Face Of ‘Backwards’ Communities

However, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Recent Appearance With Mohan Bhagwat At A Personal Family Function May Have Dented The Perception Of The Party Being ‘Anti-BJP’  

Akhilesh Yadav Has Repeatedly Attacked The ‘Double Engine’ Govt. At The Centre And In Lucknow, While BJP Is Projecting The Modi-Yogi Combine As A Winning Force With Hindus. Yadav’s Rallies Are Draing Significant Crowds And His Party Members Are Also Attracting The Attention Of Central Agencies

The Smajwadi Party National Convenor Called Raids On SP Leaders In UP And Karnataka As “Intimidation Tactics” Whereas IT Dept Says It Has Unearthed ₹86 Cr. ‘Undisclosed Income’

Samajwadi Party Has Also Allied With Many Smalled Parties, Like MLA Om Prakash Rajbhar’s Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP).Mayawati Has Slammed It As Its Last Resort After ‘Anti-Dalit’ SP Has Been Rejected By Other Bigger Parties. SP, BSP, Congress Had Fought In Alliance During UP 2017 And Fared Poorly

Priyanka Gandhi Has Also Criticized Akhilesh Yadav Being Projected As An Alternative To Yogi, Asking Where He Was When People Faced Injustices

PM Modi Also joined in the Campaign Rhetoric For The BJP, Saying That “Laal Topis” (The SP’s Definitive Red Caps) Were A “Red Alert” For UP