Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders are unsettled after Akhilesh Yadav’s Rajya Sabha pick from Uttar Pradesh, Dhanraj Nathwani, publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This has sparked criticism within the party and given rivals a chance to accuse a political alliance between Gujarat and Saifai.
Background of the Nathwani family
Dhanraj Nathwani hails from Gujarat and is known to have close ties to PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His father, Parimal Nathwani, secured Rajya Sabha seats three times from Jharkhand as an Independent, supported by the BJP. Parimal was vice-president of the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) while Modi and Shah served as GCA presidents. Dhanraj took over as GCA president in 2022. Both father and son have links with the Reliance Group.
Rajya Sabha nomination and election
The SP announced Dhanraj Nathwani’s candidature on 30 September, with his nomination papers filed the same day in the presence of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. His papers were validated on 7 October, and he is expected to be elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha.
Praise for Modi
On Wednesday evening, Dhanraj Nathwani posted a lengthy message on X, congratulating Narendra Modi on completing 25 years in public office. He shared a video tracing Modi’s political journey from Gujarat Chief Minister to Prime Minister. Nathwani praised Modi’s leadership, commitment to nation-building, and dedication over a quarter-century of public service, wishing him continued success.
25 years of leadership. 25 years of dedication. 25 years of Seva ka Sankalp.
Since taking oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001, Shri Narendra Modi has travelled a remarkable journey—from serving Gujarat to leading India as Prime Minister.
Through changing times and… pic.twitter.com/7mP3YL2IgA
— Dhanraj Nathwani (@DhanrajNathwani) October 7, 2026
Modi became Gujarat’s Chief Minister on 7 October 2001 and served for over 12 years before becoming Prime Minister in 2014.
Internal party unease
Several social media users questioned why an SP Rajya Sabha nominee would publicly praise the Prime Minister, given the party’s opposition to the BJP. A senior SP leader, speaking anonymously, said the post caused discomfort: “On the one hand, we oppose the BJP and Modi, while on the other, our own Rajya Sabha nominee is praising Modi. We do not understand how we are supposed to defend this. Our core supporters are disappointed with this choice.” The leader noted the Nathwani family’s closeness to Modi and Amit Shah.
Criticism from AIMIM and BJP response
The AIMIM seized the opportunity to question Akhilesh Yadav’s nomination choice. AIMIM spokesperson Shadab Chauhan asked on X: “Yeh rishta kya kehlata hai? Akhilesh ji’s favourite Rajya Sabha nominee is eulogising Modi ji.” He accused the post of confirming allegations of a political “match-fixing” between Gujarat and Saifai, the Yadav stronghold, and challenged SP leaders on their stance regarding Modi.
The BJP aimed to use Nathwani’s praise politically. Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said Nathwani was new to politics and spoke “from the heart, not the mind.” Tripathi added, “Even Akhilesh Yadav praises Modi ji from the heart, but he has political compulsions in his mind.” He highlighted Modi’s 25 years of public service as bringing revolutionary changes and noted international praise for Modi.
