India
oi-Ashish Rana
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has turned a political challenge from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav into an invitation for a direct electoral contest. Addressing a gathering in Balrampur on Saturday, 10 October, Yogi said he was ready to contest from Ayodhya if the opposition leader filed his nomination from the same constituency.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath challenged SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to contest elections directly from Ayodhya, offering to file his nomination from the same constituency. Speaking in Balrampur on October 10, Adityanath also criticized the SP’s alleged ties to mafia figures.
The exchange comes as the BJP and the Samajwadi Party continue to trade political attacks in Uttar Pradesh. Yogi called on Akhilesh to stop relying on his supporters to challenge him and instead face him in an election.
Yogi Puts Ayodhya Challenge To Akhilesh
Yogi said both leaders should enter the contest from Ayodhya and let voters decide the outcome. He made it clear that he was willing to contest from the temple town if Akhilesh accepted the proposal.
“Akhilesh ji challenges me to contest elections from Ayodhya. I offer you this: you also file your nomination from Ayodhya, and I will do the same. Let us test our luck once and settle this face-to-face. Why fight through your followers when the battle should be direct?” Yogi said.
Why Yogi Says Ayodhya Is About Development
Despite using Ayodhya as the centre of his challenge, Yogi maintained that the city should not be treated merely as a political battleground. He described it as a sacred destination and stressed the importance of development.
“Ayodhya is our sacred dham; we don’t go there for politics, but for development,” he said.
अखिलेश जी,मैं आपको ऑफर करता हूं।आइए, आप भी श्री अयोध्या धाम में नामांकन करिए और मैं भी करता हूं… https://t.co/R4Jtz6vNOw
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 10, 2026
Ayodhya has a prominent place in Uttar Pradesh politics, particularly following the inauguration of the Ram temple in January 2024.
Chief Minister Attacks SP Over Mafia Allegations
Yogi also targeted Akhilesh over what he described as the Samajwadi Party’s links with mafia figures. He alleged that those who bow before mafias and offer prayers at their graves could not challenge him.
Claiming that voters had rejected such political figures in the past, Yogi described their actions as those of a “frustrated cat”. He ended by renewing his invitation to Akhilesh to contest from Ayodhya and face him directly.
