Ayodhya political rivalry intensifies ahead of potential by-elections

Political tensions are escalating in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) engage in a heated verbal exchange regarding potential upcoming by-elections.

A local BJP legislator criticized Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of making bold claims and issuing challenges to opponents but failing to contest on the ground when required. The legislator suggested that if Yadav's policies were truly popular, he should face the electoral challenge in Ayodhya directly.

In response, Akhilesh Yadav targeted the BJP, claiming that a single youth ‘PDA Prahari’ (representing Backward, Dalit, and Minority classes) would be sufficient to defeat the ruling party in Ayodhya. Yadav also accused the BJP of involvement in ‘vote theft’ conspiracies and criticized the party's handling of local issues.

Additionally, while paying tribute to the late Mulayam Singh Yadav on his death anniversary in Etawah, Yadav reaffirmed the Samajwadi Party's commitment to the PDA ideology, emphasizing the need to support the marginalized and eliminate social discrimination.