Balrampur/Lucknow. Before the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, political rhetoric regarding Ayodhya has intensified between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav. Yogi Adityanath hit back when Akhilesh Yadav advised the Chief Minister to contest elections from Ayodhya. He said that Akhilesh should also file nomination from Ayodhya and he should also try his luck by contesting elections from there.

In Balrampur, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Akhilesh Yadav asked him to contest elections from Ayodhya. He said, “Akhilesh ji, Ayodhya is our holy place. We go to Ayodhya not for politics, but for development. It is a place of our faith, not just a place to contest elections.” Along with this, he proposed Akhilesh to contest elections from Ayodhya and said that both of them can try their luck by filing nomination from there.

Akhilesh said- Have you forgotten the result of Lok Sabha elections?

In fact, during a program in Ballia on Friday, Akhilesh Yadav had advised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to contest the 2027 assembly elections from Ayodhya. He had said that if the Chief Minister has confidence in the support of the people of Ayodhya, then he should contest from this seat in the upcoming assembly elections.

While reacting on social media on Saturday, Akhilesh targeted BJP over the alleged irregularities in Ayodhya and the problems of the local people. He raised the question whether the Chief Minister has forgotten the results of the Lok Sabha elections. Akhilesh claimed that there is uneasiness about BJP contesting elections in Ayodhya. He said that the public will answer the arrogance of those in power in the upcoming elections.

'This is not a challenge, it is political advice'

Akhilesh Yadav, while talking to the media, clarified that his comment should not be seen as a challenge to the Chief Minister. He said it was a political advice. If the Chief Minister has full confidence in the support of the people of Ayodhya, then he should decide to contest from there in the next assembly elections.

The SP chief said that the people of Ayodhya are not against development, but questions are being raised on the treatment meted out to local residents during the development of the city. According to him, along with Ayodhya getting international recognition, the interests of the people there should also have been taken care of.

Raised the issue of compensation for land and shops

Akhilesh Yadav alleged that during the development works in Ayodhya, shops of many people were removed, houses were demolished and lands were acquired. He claimed that the affected people did not receive compensation as per the market rate. The SP chief also targeted the BJP while mentioning the allegations of alleged irregularities to offerings in the temple.

Akhilesh said that the complaints and problems of the people of Ayodhya should not be ignored. He also expressed confidence that changes will come in the 2027 assembly elections.

Ayodhya becomes center of political rhetoric

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Ayodhya as a place to faith and development and talked about keeping it away from electoral politics, while Akhilesh Yadav raised issues of the city's development, rights of local people and compensation. After the statements of both the leaders, the political discussion regarding contesting elections from Ayodhya has intensified. However, no final announcement has been made yet regarding the constituency of both the leaders in the 2027 assembly elections.