On the first day of the winter session, Samajwadi Party members donned black clothing as a protest against the new rules that forbid lawmakers in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly from carrying phones, political posters, or flags. The regulations went into effect on Tuesday.

While Akhilesh Yadav, the chairman of the Samajwadi Party (SP), arrived dressed in a black jacket and white kurta-pajamas, several other leaders of the party were also dressed in black. The state assembly’s session is being run under new guidelines.

The state assembly’s session is being run under new guidelines. It forbids carrying any flags or banners inside the house, even cell phones.

The state assembly’s winter session started on Tuesday, when the House paid respects to the recently deceased BJP MLA Ashutosh Tandon and other previous members before adjourning for the day.

In response to a question on the attire of his party’s lawmakers, Leader of the Opposition Yadav stated, “This was a protest against the government.”

This is how we feel about the new regulations. Yadav told reporters outside the assembly, “This opposition should be registered because they (the government) want to weaken democracy.”

“The purpose of rules is to bolster democracy.” We were, after all, sent and chosen by the people. It is our duty to inquire on behalf of the general public.

“BJP is destroying the democratic system,” declared Manoj Paras, a prominent leader of the Samajwadi Party. The opinions of the members will not be heard during the short three-day session of this House. We are protesting by coming here in black clothing for that reason.

But Sudhakar Singh of the SP, who defeated BJP candidate and former UP minister Dara Singh Chauhan in the recent by-election for the Ghosi assembly seat, showed up sporting a pink scarf.

‘He was not aware of the plot but the ‘gamchha’ (scarf) is a sign of triumph and Rajput pride,’ he replied when questioned why he had not dressed in black. This Saturday, an official announcement was released here stating that the assembly session would be conducted with new rules.

After the adjournment of the House, Leader of Opposition Yadav was seen with his uncle Shivpal Yadav and party members in the assembly hall for sometime.