Ayodhya, October 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday challenged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to contest the upcoming Assembly election from Ayodhya, saying the BJP was struggling to find a suitable candidate in the constituency.
Addressing supporters during his visit to the temple city, Yadav said the Chief Minister should contest from Ayodhya if he was confident of his political standing.
“If the Chief Minister who makes tall claims and remains so confident, he should contest the election from Ayodhya,” Yadav said, drawing cheers from his supporters.
The SP chief claimed that the BJP had been conducting repeated internal surveys since his party announced its candidate for Ayodhya and alleged that the findings showed the ruling party trailing.
“Ever since we announced our candidate for Ayodhya, the BJP has been conducting survey after survey. In every single survey, it is falling behind,” he said, adding that the BJP was reportedly finding it difficult to identify a suitable candidate for the seat.
Yadav also said the SP’s electoral campaign would focus on financial support for women. Reiterating the party’s poll promise, he said mothers and sisters across Uttar Pradesh would receive annual financial assistance of Rs 40,000 if the SP formed the government.
On Ayodhya’s development, Yadav said a future SP government would work to accelerate the city’s development and enhance its international recognition as the birthplace of Lord Ram.
He also promised that there would be no discrimination and that people’s houses and shops would not be demolished under an SP government, in an apparent reference to the BJP government’s use of bulldozers in action against alleged encroachments and illegal constructions.
Yadav did not visit the Ram Temple during his latest trip to Ayodhya, his third visit to the city since the temple’s inauguration in 2024.
The challenge comes ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, scheduled for early next year. The ruling BJP and opposition parties have intensified public outreach and mobilisation efforts as they prepare for the high-stakes electoral contest.
FOLLOW NOW
