Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav announced on Wednesday that he will visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya with his family on December 12. During a press conference in Lucknow, the former Chief Minister also confirmed plans to visit Vrindavan in Mathura, noting that his party’s current slogan, “Pehle Darshan, Phir Ashirwad,” aligns with these upcoming visits.
The announcement comes as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intends to leverage the Samajwadi Party’s historical position on the Ram Temple construction during the upcoming assembly elections. According to functionaries aware of the matter, the BJP plans to highlight the 1990 police firing incident on volunteers headed for the Babri Masjid, which occurred while then-SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav served as Chief Minister.
Responding to political criticism, Yadav claimed the upcoming election is a contest between “95 percent” of the population—whom he described as exploited—and “5 percent” of oppressors backed by the BJP. He also addressed remarks by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath regarding electoral rolls, urging the government to link voter lists with Aadhaar cards to eliminate potential fraud. He suggested that Aadhaar cards should be made of metal to prevent the creation of counterfeit identity documents.
During his address, Yadav also alleged widespread corruption under the current state administration. He claimed that contracts worth Rs 17,500 crore under the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) were distributed through collusion. Furthermore, he alleged that the government has closed 26,000 primary schools, reduced jobs in the Education Department, and failed to establish new industries despite making investment claims.
Key facts
- Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on December 12, 2026.
- The BJP plans to focus on the 1990 police firing incident during the upcoming state assembly polls.
- Yadav alleged that Rs 17,500 crore in tenders under UPEIDA were distributed through mutual collusion.
- The SP leader demanded that voter lists be linked with Aadhaar to prevent the use of fake voter cards.
Why it matters
The scheduled visit places the Ram Temple at the center of the political discourse in Uttar Pradesh. As the state moves toward assembly elections, both the ruling BJP and the opposition Samajwadi Party are utilizing the issue to shape voter sentiment and challenge each other’s historical and administrative records.
Background
The Supreme Court paved the way for the construction of the Ram Temple following a long-standing legal battle, leading to its consecration in January 2024.
Source: Indian Express, Hindustan Times
Comments