BJP slams Akhilesh Yadav's Ayodhya visit plan as poll-driven opportunism
Synopsis
Akhilesh Yadav's first-ever visit to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir — scheduled for 12 December, nearly two years after its consecration — has triggered a coordinated BJP offensive, with the UP Deputy CM, a cabinet minister, an MP, and a national spokesperson all alleging the move is pure electoral theatre. The BJP's swift, multi-voice response reveals just how fiercely both parties are contesting the Ayodhya narrative ahead of upcoming elections.
Key Takeaways
Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit the Ram Mandir and Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya on 12 December , accompanied by wife Dimple Yadav and family.
This will be his first visit to the Ram Mandir since its consecration in January 2024 .
UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak alleged the visit is a 'show' to secure votes ahead of elections, accusing the SP of 'appeasement and vote-bank politics.' UP Minister Daya Shankar Singh urged Yadav to seek forgiveness for the 1990 firing on Ram devotees under Mulayam Singh Yadav 's tenure.
BJP MP Ravi Kishan suggested Yadav bring Rahul Gandhi along; BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha labelled both leaders 'political Hindus.' Sinha alleged Yadav skipped two prior invitations to the Ram Mandir — the consecration in January 2024 and a ceremony in November 2024 .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Monday, 9 November 2026 launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his announced visit to Ayodhya, alleging the move was driven purely by electoral calculations rather than genuine religious devotion. The BJP accused Yadav of practising 'opportunistic politics' in the name of Sanatan Dharma.
The Planned Visit
Yadav is scheduled to travel to Ayodhya on 12 December alongside his wife, Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav, and other family members. The SP chief is expected to offer prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple and seek the blessings of Lord Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir. The visit was confirmed by SP leader and former Ayodhya MLA Pawan Pandey. Notably, this will mark Yadav's first visit to the Ram Mandir since its consecration in January 2024 — an absence BJP leaders have been quick to highlight.
What BJP Leaders Alleged
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, speaking to reporters, alleged that the SP chief's visit amounted to a staged display of Hindu sentiment ahead of elections. 'They will never truly embrace Sanatan Dharma. They are merely putting on a show of supporting Sanatan culture and Hindus to secure votes in the upcoming elections. They are deeply opposed to Sanatan Dharma and Hindus. They have nothing to do with their welfare and only engage in politics based on appeasement and vote-bank consolidation. They have no plans for the welfare of the common people and rely solely on caste-based politics and appeasement,' Pathak alleged.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Daya Shankar Singh questioned the timing of the visit, claiming Yadav had avoided the temple earlier for fear of alienating a particular voter base. 'They wanted to secure the votes of a particular community. Even today, they are driven by the same fear, which is why they have not gone for darshan till now. They fear that visiting the temple might cause them to lose their vote bank. Today, they claim to be descendants of Lord Krishna,' Singh said. He further urged Yadav to seek forgiveness from Lord Ram over the 1990 firing on Ram devotees during the tenure of then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. 'I would urge them to go and seek the blessings of Lord Shri Ram. As an act of atonement, they should apologise to Lord Shri Ram for the incident in which your party's leader and the then Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, ordered firing on Ram devotees. Seek forgiveness for that act. God forgives everyone,' Singh added.
Ravi Kishan and Tuhin Sinha Join the Attack
BJP MP Ravi Kishan suggested that Yadav take Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi along for the visit. 'He should take his elder brother Rahul Gandhi along as well. He should bow his head at the feet of Lord Shri Ram,' Kishan said. BJP National Spokesperson Tuhin Sinha drew a direct parallel between Yadav and Gandhi, labelling both 'political Hindus.' Sinha claimed that Yadav had skipped two separate invitations — to the consecration ceremony in January 2024 and to a ceremony held the following November — only to announce a visit now, ahead of elections. 'For the past three years, he did not find time to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Now, suddenly, ahead of the elections, he has remembered the temple and is visiting it, just like Rahul Gandhi. It is good that he is going, but this is opportunism. This opportunistic mindset has become the identity of our Opposition today,' Sinha alleged.
The Political Context
The BJP's coordinated response — involving the state's deputy chief minister, a cabinet minister, an MP, and a national spokesperson — signals how strategically sensitive the Ayodhya optics are ahead of the next round of state elections. This comes amid a broader BJP effort to consolidate Hindu voter sentiment around the Ram Mandir narrative, a template it has deployed effectively since 2024. For the SP, the visit represents an attempt to neutralise that narrative by demonstrating direct engagement with the temple. How that gambit plays out will likely depend on voter reception in the politically decisive Hindi-belt constituencies both parties are targeting.
Point of View
Multi-voice attack on Yadav's Ayodhya visit is itself a measure of how much political equity the Ram Mandir holds — and how nervous the ruling party is about the SP attempting to claim a share of it. By dispatching its deputy chief minister, a cabinet minister, an MP, and a national spokesperson in a single news cycle, the BJP is not just countering Yadav; it is signalling that the temple narrative is non-negotiable BJP territory. The irony is that the very ferocity of the response amplifies Yadav's visit rather than diminishing it. For the SP, simply showing up at Ayodhya may be enough to shift perception among Hindu voters who have so far viewed the party's engagement with the temple as half-hearted — and no amount of 'opportunism' labelling from the BJP will fully neutralise that.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Akhilesh Yadav visiting Ayodhya?
Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on 12 December, accompanied by his wife Dimple Yadav and other family members. The visit was confirmed by SP leader and former Ayodhya MLA Pawan Pandey.
Why is the BJP criticising Akhilesh Yadav's Ayodhya visit?
BJP leaders allege that the visit is election-driven rather than a genuine religious act, noting that Yadav skipped two prior invitations to the Ram Mandir — including the consecration ceremony in January 2024. They have accused him of practising 'opportunistic politics' in the name of Sanatan Dharma.
What did UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak say about the visit?
Pathak alleged that the SP is 'putting on a show of supporting Sanatan culture and Hindus to secure votes in the upcoming elections' and accused the party of relying on 'caste-based politics and appeasement' rather than genuine concern for Hindu welfare.
What is the significance of the Ram Mandir reference in Uttar Pradesh politics?
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has been a central BJP political symbol, particularly after its consecration in January 2024. Both the BJP and SP are now contesting the temple narrative ahead of upcoming elections, with the BJP seeking to retain exclusive credit for the mandir's construction and the SP attempting to demonstrate its own engagement with it.
What is the 1990 firing incident that BJP leaders referenced?
BJP minister Daya Shankar Singh urged Akhilesh Yadav to seek forgiveness from Lord Ram for a 1990 incident in which police allegedly fired on Ram devotees during the tenure of his father, then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. The incident remains a politically charged reference in UP.
