From red to blue, Samajwadi Party plans new look for its student wing. Here’s why

From red to blue, Samajwadi Party intends new look for its student wing.

Key points

• The probable move comes days after Akhilesh Yadav met Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenor and spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka in Lucknow.
• Blue has long been seen as a colour associated with Dalit-Ambedkerite politics in Uttar Pradesh.
• An announcement in this regard is probable by party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday.
• The Opposition party is trying to obtain to Dalit voters by changing the colour (of dress).

From red to blue, Samajwadi Party intends new look for its student wing. Here's why Akhilesh Yadav may announce blue uniform for Samajwadi Party Chhatra Sabha on Tuesday, say sources. Written by: Maulshree Seth. 4 min read Lucknow Sep 8, 2026 05: 45 AM IST. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. (Express file photo).

Blue has long been seen as a colour associated with Dalit-Ambedkerite politics in Uttar Pradesh. Two Dalit-centric parties in the state – Bahujan Samaj Party and Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) – have applied the colour as part of their political identity.

But these two parties will no longer be alone in this as the Samajwadi Party is now probable to introduce a blue dress code for its student organisation – Samajwadi Party Chhatra Sabha.

As part of its 'Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak' (PDA) plank ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, plenty of are seeing it as an attempt to connect not only with the youth in general but the Dalit youth in particular.

Notably, an announcement in this regard is probable by party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday.

In practice, the SP's probable move is part of its broader exercise to provide its frontal youth organisations, including the Samajwadi Party Yuvjan Sabha, Samajwadi Party Lohia Vahini, Samajwadi Party Ambedkar Vahini and the Samajwadi Party Chhatra Sabha, distinct identities, against the backdrop of attempts to step up efforts around matters concerning Gen Z and Gen Alpha, it is learnt.

For context, the party is now looking at ways to create clearer identities for all of these organisations, a senior SP leader remarked.

"Since the party has multiple youth organisations, the idea is to determine the role and identity of each unit, and the new dress code is a move in that direction, " the leader continued.

Meanwhile, reports of the probable move have prompted a reaction from the ruling BJP, seeing it as an attempt to eye the Dalit vote.

Referring to the SP's "poor record" on Dalit problems and remarks by their veteran leader and former minister Azam Khan on B R Ambedkar, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi stated, "Changing the colour will not wash away the stains of their deeds. The Opposition party is trying to obtain to Dalit voters by changing the colour (of dress)."

Notably, the SP has already initiated a campaign highlighting what it has described as "poor condition" of administration schools throughout the state, and additionally raised the closure of almost 26, 000 primary schools while organising "PDA Pathshalas" at such institutions.

In practice, the campaign could now form part of a wider effort to address problems and aspirations of younger voters.

In practice, a Samajwadi Party Chhatra Sabha functionary informed The Indian Express, "Our national president will make the announcement on Tuesday and reveal our plans for Gen Z and Gen Alpha." Days after CJP gathering.

In practice, the probable move comes days after Akhilesh Yadav met Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) co-convenor and spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka in Lucknow.

Meanwhile, the session had generated political speculation, particularly as it followed the SP's backing for a CJP-backed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over the problem of education.

Notably, a senior SP leader, nevertheless, stated the session was purely personal and that nothing much should be read between the lines.

In practice, the session nevertheless brought into focus an apparent overlap between the two organisations' emphasis on education.

While both CJP and SP are undertaking their own campaigns to raise problems concerning the condition of administration schools, SP leaders insisted that the party's probable blue dress code move is primarily part of its own organisational and political outreach.

Taken together, the developments around from red to blue, Samajwadi Party plans new look for its student point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.