Headmaster Suspended Over SP Chief’s Birthday Celebration At Kanpur School, Political Row Erupts

Last Updated:July 04, 2026, 10:31 IST

Photographs showing Akhilesh Yadav’s portrait inside the school went viral, drawing criticism from BJP, which accused the Samajwadi Party of politicising educational institutions.

Can a government school become a battleground for political symbolism? That question has sparked a fresh political storm in Uttar Pradesh after the suspension of a government primary school principal for allegedly allowing the celebration of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s birthday on campus.

The controversy escalated after the Samajwadi Party accused the BJP government of double standards, pointing to an earlier incident in which BJP MP Ramesh Awasthi allegedly taught children “M for Modi" and “N for Narendra" inside another government school without facing disciplinary action.

The Basic Education Department suspended Navin Kumar Tripathi, headmaster of a government primary school in Parmat, Kanpur, after an inquiry found that political activities had been held on the premises. The suspension order said Tripathi had failed to prevent the use of the school campus for a political programme, prompting a departmental investigation.

The controversy began on July 1, when SP MLA Amitabh Bajpai visited the school to celebrate Akhilesh Yadav’s 53rd birthday. A cake was cut and uniforms were distributed to students. Photographs of the event, featuring Akhilesh Yadav’s portrait inside the school, soon went viral, triggering criticism from the BJP, which accused the Samajwadi Party of politicising educational institutions.

Following complaints, Basic Shiksha Adhikari Hari Om Singh suspended Tripathi and ordered a detailed inquiry. Education department officials defended the action, saying, “Government schools cannot be used for political programmes by any political party. Appropriate action has been taken based on the inquiry report."

However, the suspension has opened another front in Uttar Pradesh’s political battle.

Defending the event, Bajpai said, “For the last ten years, I have been celebrating my birthday and Akhilesh Yadav ji’s birthday in government schools by distributing uniforms, books and educational material to children. If this is a crime, then the government should explain why no action was taken when BJP leaders conducted political activities inside schools."

He maintained that the event was primarily a welfare programme for schoolchildren and that students were not made part of any political campaign.

Bajpai then referred to an earlier programme attended by BJP MP Ramesh Awasthi at a government school. “When children were taught ‘M for Modi’ and ‘N for Narendra’ in a government school by a BJP MP, no principal was suspended. Why is there one rule for the BJP and another for the Opposition?" he asked, alleging selective enforcement of rules.

The Samajwadi Party has argued that the suspension reflects political vendetta rather than administrative neutrality. Bajpai further said, “The BJP is once again trying to target the Opposition while ignoring similar actions by its own leaders. This selective approach raises serious questions about fairness."

The BJP, however, rejected the comparison and maintained that government schools should remain free from partisan activities. Party leaders argued that displaying photographs of a political leader, cutting a birthday cake and holding celebrations inside a government educational institution amounted to a political programme that warranted disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Tripathi denied organising any political function. In his written explanation to the education department, he said, “The MLA arrived at the school without prior information. The school had not organised any political programme. The uniform distribution event had already been postponed because of official engagements." He claimed the school administration had neither invited political leaders nor planned the birthday celebration.

The episode comes at a politically sensitive time, with Akhilesh Yadav’s birthday celebrations already generating controversy elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier this week, posters portraying the SP chief as Lord Krishna and religious rituals organised by party workers drew criticism from the BJP, adding to the ongoing sparring between the two parties.

With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, even routine events are increasingly acquiring political overtones.

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