Let's test our luck: UP CM Yogi challenges Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Ayodhya

At a Balrampur rally, Yogi Adityanath challenged Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Ayodhya. He used the exchange to frame Ayodhya as a symbol of faith and development while attacking the Opposition on law and order, nominations and alleged corruption.

In Short

• He said Ayodhya should be seen as sacred land and development
• Adityanath accused previous governments of enabling mafias, land grabs and lawlessness
• He claimed Balrampur's poor roads before 2017 reflected earlier neglect

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, challenging him to contest an election from Ayodhya and saying the holy city was a place of faith and development, not merely electoral politics.

Addressing a public meeting in UP's Balrampur, Adityanath responded to Akhilesh Yadav's remarks challenging him to contest from Ayodhya. The Chief Minister said he visited the temple town for development and to ensure that Uttar Pradesh's identity was not tarnished.

"Akhilesh ji, I offer you a challenge. You file your nomination from Shri Ayodhya Dham, and I will also file mine. Let us test our luck once," Adityanath said.

'AYODHYA IS OUR SACRED LAND'

Adityanath said Ayodhya was a place of religious significance and should not be viewed merely as a political battleground.

"We do not go to Ayodhya for politics, but for development. Ayodhya is our sacred land of faith, not a place to contest elections," he said.

Taking aim at Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief Minister questioned the Samajwadi Party chief's criticism of him over Ayodhya and invited him to contest from the constituency.

He also contrasted the city's past with its present, claiming that it had set a new example.

The Chief Minister said his government's approach was aimed at development and ensuring that Uttar Pradesh's identity did not suffer.

YOGI TARGETS SP OVER MAFIA, LAW AND ORDER

Adityanath also accused previous governments of allowing lawlessness and enabling land grabs by mafias.

He alleged that once a mafia member set his sights on a piece of land, it would be taken over. He further claimed that traders threatened by Samajwadi Party members were forced to surrender their properties.

The Chief Minister said Balrampur's roads were among the worst in the state before 2017 and questioned the development achieved in the region under previous governments.

He also took a swipe at political opponents, saying those who had once bowed before mafias lacked the courage to confront his government. He claimed that voters had already rejected such leaders.

'ONE VOTE HAS CHANGED BALRAMPUR'S IDENTITY'

Speaking about the impact of voting, Adityanath said a single vote could change the direction of a region.

He said votes that had once contributed to an identity crisis and turned the area into a hub of smuggling were now driving development and progress.

The Chief Minister said the same vote that had earlier been associated with lawlessness was now contributing to change. He added that Balrampur was moving beyond its status as an aspirational district towards becoming a district with greater opportunities.

YOGI ATTACKS SP OVER RAJYA SABHA NOMINATIONS

Adityanath also criticised the Samajwadi Party over its candidates for the recent Rajya Sabha elections, alleging that the party had not nominated a single Dalit candidate.

He claimed that one seat had gone to Akhilesh Yadav's uncle and that another had been given to a wealthy businessman in exchange for money.

Taking a dig at the party's PDA slogan, the Chief Minister called it "Parivar Development Authority", accusing the Samajwadi Party of prioritising family interests over its stated political agenda.

ATTACKS CONGRESS, SP OVER TEMPLE POLITICS AND SCAMS

The Chief Minister also targeted the Congress and its allies, accusing them of forgetting basic political etiquette and crossing the limits of democratic opposition.

He alleged that those who had opposed the construction of the Ram temple and the Kashi Vishwanath Dham were now opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Adityanath said political opposition had its limits and accused the Congress and its allies of using abusive language, misleading the public and attempting to push the country towards disorder.

He further accused the Congress of presiding over a long series of scams during its tenure and described the Samajwadi Party government as one marked by corruption. He said both should apologise to the public for their alleged actions.

Taking another swipe at the Opposition, Adityanath said its leaders claimed credit when they won elections but blamed electronic voting machines (EVMs) when they lost. He described this as a double standard.

- Ends