All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kirti Azad triggered a sharp political controversy on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, after he made critical remarks about Lord Ram, questioned the deity's conduct toward Maa Sita, and declared he would never visit the Ayodhya temple. The comments, made in conversation with the media in New Delhi, drew condemnation from political leaders and religious figures across the spectrum.

What Kirti Azad Said

Kirti Azad stated that he would never travel to Ayodhya because, as he put it, Lord Ram is not his deity. He raised pointed questions about Maa Sita's exile, saying: 'Is Lord Ram the only God among crores of deities in the country. Lord Ram abandoned his wife Maa Sita despite her clearing the Agnipariksha.'

Azad invoked his roots in the Mithila region, describing Mata Sita as a mother figure: 'I belong to a place where Mata Sita comes from. She was the daughter of Mithila, she is a mother figure for me and all of us. She was left to fend for herself despite having two innocent kids. Is this a dignified conduct? What lesson should we learn from this?' He also noted that he worships Maa Kaali and is a regular visitor to the Kamakhya temple.

Religious Leaders React

Devesh Acharya, the priest at Ayodhya's Hanumangarhi temple, responded sharply, saying that the TMC leadership appeared to have 'lost their mental balance.' He added: 'A person who cannot worship or respect Lord Ram cannot truly be a devotee of Goddess Durga.' Acharya's remarks reflect a wider sentiment among the Ayodhya religious community that the MP's comments were deeply offensive.

Political Condemnations Pour In

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed Azad's remarks 'blasphemous', arguing that when the world was increasingly drawn to Lord Ram's ideals of principled conduct — the concept of Maryada Purushottam — the TMC MP was attempting to demean a revered Hindu deity.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Awadesh Prasad also distanced himself from the remarks, saying: 'Such statements and such thinking are inappropriate and condemnable. Making such remarks or spreading such views about any deity is not right.' Notably, the backlash cutting across rival parties — the BJP and the SP — signals just how politically isolated Azad's position has become.

Broader Political Context

This comes amid an already charged atmosphere around the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, which has been a focal point of Hindu religious identity and BJP political messaging since its inauguration. Statements questioning the conduct of Lord Ram have historically triggered intense reactions across India's political and social landscape. This is not the first time a remark by a TMC leader on Hindu religious figures has escalated into a national controversy, reflecting the ongoing tension between Bengal's syncretic religious culture and the dominant Ram-centric political discourse nationally.

Azad, a former BJP leader and national cricketer who later joined the TMC, finds himself in unfamiliar political territory following these remarks, with even parties outside the BJP joining the chorus of condemnation.

What Happens Next

As of 11 November 2026, Kirti Azad has not issued a clarification or retraction. It remains to be seen whether the Trinamool Congress party leadership will formally distance itself from his comments or face further political pressure. Religious organisations in Uttar Pradesh and beyond are likely to amplify their protests in the coming days.