AI video war picks up in Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2027 polls

Political parties in Uttar Pradesh are increasingly using AI-generated videos in their campaigns as the state prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections. The ruling party and the principal Opposition have traded accusations regarding the creation and spread of this digital content, with both sides denying they produce derogatory material targeting each other. The issue gained momentum on August 31 when SP president Akhilesh Yadav played an AI video during a press conference. The clip featured a character resembling Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and touched on issues like temple donation theft allegations, price rise, and women's safety. At the same press conference, Akhilesh also displayed another AI video that he stated was circulated by the BJP, blaming him for crimes against women and riots. Akhilesh cautioned against using public funds for such activities and called for an investigation into the social media handles circulating these videos. SP leaders noted that these videos resonate with grassroots workers and could become a key campaign tool, packaging political satire as entertainment using recognizable figures. SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary stated that the BJP started the AI conflict with derogatory statements against Akhilesh, adding that party workers sent the videos and leaders simply played them. On September 10, Akhilesh showcased another AI video featuring Adityanath and Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan dancing while playing clips of citizens complaining about civic amenities. A week later, another video portrayed an Akhilesh character questioning a Yogi lookalike, ending with a claim that a PDA government would form in 2027. On September 19, Akhilesh emphasized the need to fight elections on digital platforms as well as the ground to maintain narrative control. On a subsequent Monday, he unveiled another AI song clip centered on him, noting that supporters created it free of cost out of deep attachment to the party. SP sources mentioned concerns that creators might face police action, prompting leaders to play the videos directly from the party office instead. The BJP maintains it has not uploaded derogatory AI videos through official channels, attributing such content against the SP leadership to independent creators. BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi stated that while using AI tools is acceptable, they should not be misused or become derogatory. The BJP's social media campaign also uses memes and videos, focusing on comparing the previous SP regime with BJP rule since 2017, including a recent video targeting seat-sharing between the SP and the Congress.