Akhilesh Yadav challenges Yogi Adityanath to contest elections from Ayodhya

Political tensions in Uttar Pradesh have escalated as Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav challenged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to contest the upcoming assembly elections from the Ayodhya constituency. Speaking during a religious event in Ayodhya, Yadav suggested that if the BJP is confident in its position, the Chief Minister should personally contest from the seat. The SP has already named Pawan Pandey as its candidate for the Ayodhya assembly seat.

Government ministers and allies have responded to the challenge. Minister Dharmpal Singh stated that the Chief Minister will contest from wherever the BJP leadership directs and will win with a massive majority. Additionally, Om Prakash Rajbhar, president of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, criticized Yadav, questioning his recent political stances and historical governance.

In a subsequent press conference, Akhilesh Yadav clarified that he was not issuing a formal challenge but rather advising the Chief Minister to contest from Ayodhya if he is truly confident. Yadav also asserted that the INDIA alliance would defeat the BJP in the 2027 state elections, just as it did in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.