Ujjain land deal row: INDIA bloc targets MP CM Mohan Yadav over family links
Synopsis
The Ujjain land deal row has handed the INDIA bloc a two-for-one attack line — corruption and religion. By linking the controversy to the Ayodhya donation theft row, opposition leaders are building a narrative that BJP-governed religious sites are becoming arenas for alleged graft, with CM Mohan Yadav now at the centre of the storm.
Key Takeaways
Congress and RJD on 24 June accused MP CM Mohan Yadav's family of allegedly acquiring hundreds of acres of land in Ujjain .
RJD MP Manoj Jha drew a parallel with the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation row, saying 'no one has been spared.' Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged land was acquired in areas earmarked for highways, infrastructure, and the Simhastha Mahakumbh .
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav suggested the allegations may reflect a BJP internal rift aimed at removing three Chief Ministers.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo called the charges 'completely baseless' and challenged the opposition to file a formal complaint.
Leaders of the INDIA bloc, including the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), on Wednesday, 24 June launched sharp criticism against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav after members of his family were allegedly linked to land acquisitions in Ujjain. The controversy has drawn comparisons to the alleged donation theft row at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir, with opposition leaders arguing that religious sites under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-governed states are becoming flashpoints for corruption allegations.
What the Opposition Said
RJD MP Manoj Jha said that CM Mohan Yadav — whose appointment, he claimed, was backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah — had been accused of 'fraud and irregularities.' Drawing a pointed parallel, Jha remarked: 'After Ayodhya, now Ujjain, meaning after Lord Ram, now Lord Shiva, no one has been spared.'
Jha also took aim at the BJP's response to accountability crises, saying: 'They will blame the system. Not the person, but it is the system that will be discussed, just like what happened in NEET. Resignations do not happen because there is no accountability.'
Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that land running into hundreds of acres had been acquired — both before and after Yadav became Chief Minister — in areas earmarked for new highways, infrastructure projects, and events such as the Simhastha Mahakumbh. 'Land has been allotted to his family or companies linked to his family,' Khera said, adding that local Congress leaders had been raising these concerns continuously.
Congress President Weighs In
Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari responded to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's claim that the BJP had 'hatched a conspiracy to defame' CM Yadav. Patwari said he believed Akhilesh must have had information to back his statement, but cautioned: 'Saying that it is a conspiracy, I think, would be wrong.' He stressed that 'corruption is the main issue here.'
Akhilesh Yadav had, on Tuesday, alleged that the BJP was 'finding ways to remove three Chief Ministers' — those of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh — suggesting the allegations may reflect an internal power struggle within the ruling party.
BJP's Rebuttal
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo firmly rejected the allegations, saying CM Yadav had already addressed the matter and called the charges 'completely baseless.' He said Yadav and his family had been involved in their business for a long time and that 'everything has been done legally.' Shah Deo further described the opposition as 'frustrated with repeated setbacks from every state' and challenged them to file a formal complaint if they had genuine evidence.
The Broader Pattern
This is not the first time land deals linked to political figures have sparked controversy in states heading into an election cycle. The Ujjain allegations follow scrutiny of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir land acquisition row, creating a pattern that opposition parties are actively stitching into a national narrative against the BJP. Notably, the Simhastha Mahakumbh — a major religious gathering in Ujjain — is a significant infrastructure and investment event, making land in its vicinity particularly valuable.
With the BJP yet to order any independent inquiry, and the opposition yet to file a formal complaint as challenged, the political standoff is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Now Ujjain' framing is strategically deliberate — it ties two separate controversies into a single anti-BJP meta-narrative centred on religion and alleged graft. What is missing from the current political noise is any formal complaint or documentary evidence, which the BJP has pointedly flagged. Akhilesh Yadav's 'internal rift' theory, meanwhile, complicates the opposition's own unity: if the allegations are a BJP internal operation, the INDIA bloc risks amplifying a factional dispute rather than exposing genuine wrongdoing. The real test is whether Congress follows rhetoric with a verifiable legal challenge — or whether this remains a press-conference controversy.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Ujjain land deal allegations against MP CM Mohan Yadav?
Members of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's family have allegedly been linked to land purchases in Ujjain , reportedly in areas earmarked for highways, infrastructure projects, and the Simhastha Mahakumbh . The allegations, raised by Congress and RJD leaders, cover land reportedly acquired both before and after Yadav became Chief Minister. CM Yadav and the BJP have denied all wrongdoing, calling the charges baseless.
How has the BJP responded to the land deal allegations?
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo said CM Yadav had already addressed the matter and described the allegations as 'completely baseless.' He stated that Yadav and his family had been in their business for a long time and that all dealings were legal. The BJP also challenged the opposition to file a formal complaint if they had evidence.
What did Akhilesh Yadav say about the Mohan Yadav controversy?
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged on Tuesday that the BJP had 'hatched a conspiracy to defame' CM Mohan Yadav, suggesting the allegations reflect an internal party move to remove the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh , Rajasthan , and Uttar Pradesh . Congress President Jitu Patwari, however, said he believed corruption — not conspiracy — was the core issue.
Why did the opposition compare the Ujjain row to Ayodhya?
RJD MP Manoj Jha drew the parallel to highlight what he described as a pattern of alleged irregularities at BJP-governed religious sites — first the alleged donation theft row at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir , and now the land deal controversy in Ujjain . The comparison is part of a broader INDIA bloc narrative linking the BJP to corruption at sites associated with Hindu deities.
Has any formal complaint or inquiry been initiated?
As of 24 June , no formal complaint had been filed by the opposition, and the BJP had not announced any independent inquiry into the allegations. The BJP has challenged Congress and its allies to submit evidence through official channels if they believe wrongdoing has occurred.
