Akhilesh Yadav’s official Facebook page suspended, Samajwadi Party alleges political motive

The official Facebook page of Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav was suspended on Friday evening, triggering a sharp political backlash from his party.

According to sources, Facebook’s parent company Meta took the action for allegedly posting a “violent sexual post.” They clarified that the Indian government had no role in the suspension.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s page — followed by over eight million users — was taken down around 6 p.m., news agency PTI reported. Yadav frequently used the platform to share his views, criticize government policies, and engage with supporters across the state.

The Samajwadi Party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being behind the move. “Suspending the Facebook account of respected Akhilesh Yadav ji, the national president of the country’s third-largest party, is an attack on democracy,” party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chaand wrote on X. “The BJP government has imposed an undeclared emergency, where every opposing voice is being suppressed.”

SP national secretary Rajeev Rai also condemned the action, calling it “a blow to India’s democratic system.” He added, “Blocking the account of the leader of the third-largest party in Parliament, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, is not only condemnable but also a sign of cowardice if done at the behest of the ruling party.”

SP MLA Pooja Shukla criticized Facebook for the suspension, saying the platform acted “without any warning or notice.” “This is not an ordinary account — this is the voice of millions! Facebook cannot silence democracy,” she said on X.

Meta has not yet issued an official statement on the suspension.