OP Rajbhar targets Akhilesh Yadav over Ayodhya visit, questions faith in Ram
Synopsis
UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar has turned Akhilesh Yadav's Ayodhya visit into a political flashpoint — not because Yadav went, but because he didn't visit the Ram Mandir. In a blunt X post, Rajbhar invoked the 1990 kar sevak firing, alleged minority vote-bank calculus, and challenged Yadav to declare himself an atheist if he lacks genuine faith.
Key Takeaways
Om Prakash Rajbhar , UP Cabinet Minister, attacked Akhilesh Yadav on 9 October 2026 via a post on X.
Yadav visited Ayodhya for a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha hosted by former minister Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey but did not visit the Ram Mandir .
Rajbhar alleged the Ram Mandir was skipped to protect Yadav's minority vote bank .
Rajbhar referenced the 1990 firing on kar sevaks during the tenure of Mulayam Singh Yadav .
Rajbhar challenged Yadav to either affirm his faith or 'openly declare' himself an atheist .
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on 9 October 2026 launched a pointed attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav after Yadav visited Ayodhya without stopping at the Ram Mandir, questioning his religious sincerity and alleging the omission was driven by electoral calculations.
The X Post That Sparked the Row
In a post on X in Hindi, Rajbhar directly addressed Yadav, asking: 'Akhilesh ji, did you go to Ayodhya? Didn't go for darshan, did you?' He went on to invoke a historically charged reference, asking whether 'the screams of the kar sevaks' had echoed in Yadav's ears — a pointed allusion to the 1990 firing on kar sevaks that took place during the tenure of Akhilesh Yadav's father, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The Minority Vote Bank Allegation
Rajbhar alleged that Akhilesh Yadav deliberately skipped the Ram Mandir because a visit would have 'impacted his minority vote bank.' The minister also referenced photographs of Yadav receiving bhog prasad, contrasting them with his appearances at iftar gatherings. 'Looking at this picture, it feels like you're not sitting there for bhog prasad but to satisfy a hunger for votes,' Rajbhar wrote, alleging that any display of religious sentiment by the SP chief is driven by electoral need rather than genuine faith.
Call to Declare Faith or Atheism
Rajbhar went further, urging Yadav to stop being 'a hostage to political equations' and to make a clear declaration of his beliefs. 'If you have faith, don't let yourself become a hostage to political equations. If you don't have faith, just say it openly: I'm an atheist,' Rajbhar wrote. He also called on Yadav to seek forgiveness, adding: 'There's still time — repent while you can. The sins won't be erased, but perhaps God will forgive. Lord Shri Ram is greatly merciful.' He concluded his post with 'Jai Shri Ram, Jai Hanuman.'
What Akhilesh Yadav Actually Did in Ayodhya
According to reports, Akhilesh Yadav visited Ayodhya on Thursday to attend a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha hosted by former minister Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey. However, the Ram Mandir was not included on his itinerary — an omission that has now become the focal point of BJP-alliance criticism. The SP chief has not publicly responded to Rajbhar's remarks as of the time of this report.
Political Context
This comes amid a broader pattern of competitive religious signalling in Uttar Pradesh, where the Ram Mandir has emerged as a critical political symbol since its consecration. Rajbhar, who leads the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and is a key ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state, has previously used sharp rhetoric against the SP. The exchange underscores the deepening fault lines between the ruling alliance and the opposition SP ahead of future state electoral cycles. How the SP responds — and whether Yadav chooses to visit the Ram Mandir — is expected to shape the next phase of the political debate.
Point of View
But for what he chose not to do there. By invoking the 1990 kar sevak firing and the minority vote-bank calculus in a single post, Rajbhar is attempting to frame the SP as perpetually caught between appeasement and opportunistic religiosity, a framing the BJP alliance has used with measurable effect in recent UP election cycles. What the mainstream coverage misses is that Rajbhar himself is a backward-caste leader whose base the SP has historically contested; his attack is as much about that caste arithmetic as it is about the Ram Mandir. The SP's silence, if it holds, may be the most telling political signal of all.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Om Prakash Rajbhar attack Akhilesh Yadav over the Ayodhya visit?
Rajbhar attacked Akhilesh Yadav because the SP chief visited Ayodhya for a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha but did not include the Ram Mandir on his itinerary. Rajbhar alleged the omission was deliberate, aimed at protecting Yadav's minority vote bank.
What did Akhilesh Yadav do during his Ayodhya visit?
Akhilesh Yadav visited Ayodhya on Thursday to attend a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha hosted by former minister Tej Narayan 'Pawan' Pandey. He did not visit the Ram Mandir during the trip.
What was the 1990 kar sevak firing that Rajbhar referenced?
Rajbhar alluded to the 1990 incident in Ayodhya when kar sevaks were fired upon during the tenure of then-Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav's father. The episode remains a politically sensitive reference in UP politics.
What challenge did Rajbhar issue to Akhilesh Yadav?
Rajbhar challenged Yadav to stop being 'a hostage to political equations' and either affirm his faith by visiting the Ram Mandir or openly declare himself an atheist. He also called on Yadav to seek forgiveness from Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman.
Who is Om Prakash Rajbhar?
Om Prakash Rajbhar is a Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and the chief of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an ally of the ruling BJP in the state. He is known for his direct rhetorical attacks on the Samajwadi Party.
