The Facebook page of Akhilesh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and national president of the Samajwadi Party (SP), has been suspended, sparking outrage among party leaders and supporters. The incident has ignited debates on democracy and free speech, with the opposition alleging suppression, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denying involvement, and Meta, Facebook's parent company, remaining silent.

The sudden unavailability of the page, which boasts over 8 million followers, has triggered heated discussions on social media and within political circles. Many see the move as an attempt to silence a prominent voice and suppress dissent. SP leaders have strongly condemned the suspension, accusing Facebook of acting undemocraticly.

SP MLA from Meerut, Atul Pradhan, voiced his concerns on social media platform X, stating that the government cannot erase Akhilesh Yadav from the public's hearts by shutting down his Facebook account. He emphasized Yadav's popularity and asserted that such actions would not diminish it. Pooja Shukla, another SP leader, criticized Facebook for suspending the page without any prior notice or warning, calling it an attempt to suppress democracy and urging the platform to be mindful of its limits.

The timing of the suspension has also raised eyebrows. It occurred on the third death anniversary of Akhilesh Yadav's father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, a prominent figure in Indian politics. Adding to the intrigue, a post made by Akhilesh Yadav on Friday, commemorating his father, is no longer visible on Facebook. On the day of his father's death anniversary, Akhilesh Yadav announced the creation of a memorial in Saifai to honor the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

As of now, the exact reason for the suspension remains unclear. It has not been officially confirmed whether it was due to a technical error, political pressure, or other reasons. Meta has yet to release any statement regarding the matter.

The suspension has drawn strong reactions from Samajwadi Party supporters, many of whom have labeled it an attack on democracy and have accused the government of being behind it. Some supporters have expressed that the move is a result of the government feeling threatened by a leader who speaks for the people. They see the suspension as an attempt to silence a voice that resonates with millions.

This is not the first time social media posts related to Akhilesh Yadav have caused controversy. In May 2025, Akhilesh Yadav addressed an objectionable post targeting Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak that was posted on the Samajwadi Party's X handle. He assured that such incidents would not happen again and hoped that Pathak would also refrain from making statements that could provoke such responses. In July 2025, six police officers in Uttar Pradesh were suspended for sharing a derogatory social media post aimed at Akhilesh Yadav.

In 2021, a case was registered against Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and 49 others, following a court order, over an alleged defamatory post against Akhilesh Yadav on a Facebook page named 'Bua Babua'.

The suspension of Akhilesh Yadav's Facebook page has wider implications for political discourse and freedom of expression on social media platforms in India. It raises concerns about the potential for censorship and the influence of political pressures on social media companies. With Meta's silence and the lack of a clear explanation, the controversy surrounding the suspension is likely to continue.