Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and other political figures on Thursday, 12 November 2026, accused Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav of deploying religious outreach as an electoral strategy, after it emerged that he plans to visit Ayodhya's Ram Mandir with his family on 12 December — his first visit to the temple since its consecration. The criticism comes roughly 14 months before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with rivals arguing the visit is driven by vote-bank calculations rather than genuine faith.

BJP's Charge: 'Religious Tourism Replacing Political Campaigning'

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi did not hold back, suggesting the SP chief's pivot toward temple visits reflected an acknowledgment of limited electoral gains. 'After political campaign trips, Akhilesh Yadav is going on religious trips because he knows he cannot achieve anything in the upcoming elections. That is why he is preparing for that,' Naqvi said.

Naqvi also addressed the broader question of pre-election coalition-building, warning prospective alliance partners that such arrangements rarely outlast the ballot count. 'When elections are near, many people join a coalition; some might suggest that these coalitions are meant to deceive them. The new coalitioners should know that these are temporary and opportunistic, but let them be,' he said.

Party Spokesperson Questions Ideological Consistency

BJP state spokesperson Dr Samatha G recalled the SP's earlier posture on the Ram Temple issue, arguing that Yadav's new-found religious interest sat uneasily with his party's historical record. 'Akhilesh Yadav was initially against the construction of Ram Mandir; now he has become religious. It is surprising how many people suddenly became Hindu as the elections are getting nearer,' she claimed. She added that the BJP remained confident of its own prospects, noting that several new representatives were joining the party ahead of the polls.

Shiv Sena Telangana and All India Imam Association Weigh In

Shiv Sena Telangana President Sinkaru Shivaji questioned the timing of the proposed visit, arguing it was aimed at garnering Hindu votes. 'It is more than 2-3 years since Ram Mandir was built; now he is going to Ram Mandir ahead of the elections to garner the votes of Hindus,' Shivaji said. He added, however, that the visit would be unobjectionable if it were sincere: 'If they are going wholeheartedly, then it is good, no one is going to oppose it, but not for the politics of it.'

In a sharply different line of attack, All India Imam Association president Sajid Rashidi, speaking in New Delhi, rejected the premise that Yadav was embracing Hindu religious practices altogether. 'Calling Akhilesh Yadav a Hindu is wrong. He is an atheist. Yadav has explicitly said that he does not believe in puja archana, and also that he does not believe in gods and goddesses,' Rashidi said. Rashidi also alleged that SP spokesperson Raj Kumar Bhati had reportedly taken 16 oaths pledging not to follow Hindu gods and goddesses — a claim that could not be independently verified.

Rashidi further alleged that Yadav was recalibrating his outreach because his traditional Muslim support base in Uttar Pradesh had grown uncertain. 'Akhilesh Yadav has understood that Muslims of UP are not going to vote for him in the same manner they voted for him previously; that is why, after Muslims, they are now trying to fool the Hindus,' he claimed.

What Yadav's Visit Involves

Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit the Ram Mandir and Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya alongside his family on 12 December. The visit will mark his first trip to the Ram Mandir since its consecration in January 2024. The SP has not issued a formal public response to the BJP's accusations as of the time of reporting.

The Broader Pattern

This episode reflects a well-documented pre-election dynamic in Uttar Pradesh, where parties recalibrate their public religiosity as polls approach. The SP's perceived pivot toward Hindu outreach — combined with the BJP's pointed counter-narrative — signals that religious symbolism will remain a central battleground in the 2027 state elections. How Yadav navigates these competing pressures without alienating either his traditional support base or the new voters he is reportedly courting will be among the defining political tests of the next 14 months.