Owaisi's jab at Akhilesh over Ram Temple visit sparks SP, Congress backlash
Synopsis
Owaisi's pointed jab at Akhilesh Yadav over the Ram Temple visit — invoking 400 years of Muslim prayer at the Babri Masjid site — has cracked open a revealing fault line in UP's pre-election politics. The SP called him a 'political tourist', Congress accused him of splitting opposition votes to BJP's benefit, and BJP itself dismissed the row as a battle for survival. The episode captures how identity politics in UP remains a high-voltage, multi-player game with no clear winner.
Key Takeaways
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised Akhilesh Yadav's proposed visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya at a rally in Meerut on 15 November 2026 .
Owaisi said: 'Akhilesh is going to the place where we prayed for 400 years,' referencing the Babri Masjid demolished in 1992 .
SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand labelled Owaisi a 'political tourist' who targets the Opposition while sparing those in power.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged AIMIM helped BJP by splitting opposition votes in 22-23 constituencies in the Maharashtra Assembly elections .
BJP's Ram Kripal Yadav suggested Owaisi was attempting an unsuccessful alliance negotiation with the SP ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections .
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi ignited a fresh political controversy on 15 November 2026 after publicly criticising Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his proposed visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, invoking the memory of the Babri Masjid that stood at the same site before its demolition in 1992. The remarks, made at a public meeting in Meerut, drew sharp responses from both the SP and the Indian National Congress (INC), while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought to distance itself from the intra-opposition spat.
What Owaisi Said
Addressing the Meerut rally, Owaisi said: 'Akhilesh is going to the place where we prayed for 400 years.' The statement was widely seen as an attempt to frame Akhilesh Yadav's Ayodhya visit as politically and symbolically problematic for Muslim voters, a constituency the SP has long courted. Owaisi was referring to the centuries-long use of the Babri Masjid site for Islamic worship before the structure was razed in December 1992.
SP Hits Back: 'Political Tourist' Charge
The SP responded swiftly and sharply. SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand accused Owaisi of confining his political activity to states where elections are imminent and consistently sparing the ruling establishment from scrutiny.
'Owaisi never raises any questions for the BJP... He travels to places where elections are taking place, much like a tourist. He never directs any questions towards those in power. He should at least ask one question to the UP government, to those in power. Till when will he continue to question the Opposition?' Chand said.
The 'political tourist' framing is a pointed one — it echoes longstanding criticism that AIMIM's electoral interventions fracture opposition vote shares without translating into governance accountability.
Congress Invokes Maharashtra, Calls Owaisi-BJP 'Twin Brothers'
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari escalated the critique, alleging that Owaisi's political positioning has historically benefited the BJP. He pointed to the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections as evidence.
'Owaisi's disease is not new; this infection has been going on for a long time. While Owaisi's party won four seats in Maharashtra elections, its presence contributed to the defeat of other candidates in 22 to 23 additional constituencies. The BJP and Owaisi are like twin brothers separated at the Kumbh Mela. Now that they have reunited, they are showering love on each other,' Tiwari said.
Notably, this charge — that AIMIM acts as a vote-splitter that inadvertently aids the BJP — has been a recurring opposition talking point since the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, where AIMIM's strong performance in select constituencies was linked to SP and Congress losses.
BJP Weighs In, Eyes Uttar Pradesh Polls
BJP leader and Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav interpreted Owaisi's remarks as a failed negotiation with the SP rather than a principled stand. 'Owaisi is a bargainer. He is probably trying to strike a deal with the Samajwadi Party, but perhaps the negotiations are not working out,' he said, adding that the Yogi Adityanath government would return to power in Uttar Pradesh regardless of opposition dynamics.
BJP leader Ram Kadam adopted a more detached tone, suggesting both parties were fighting for relevance ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. 'Both the parties are fighting for their existence... keeping themselves in the headlines by misleading people must be their motive,' he said, arguing that neither could mount a credible challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
Significance Ahead of UP Elections
The row underscores the complex identity politics at play as Uttar Pradesh gears up for its next Assembly elections. Akhilesh Yadav's decision to visit the Ram Temple signals an attempt to soften the SP's image on Hindu cultural issues, a move Owaisi appears determined to contest publicly. The episode also highlights how AIMIM's interventions — however limited electorally — can reshape the narrative space in multi-cornered state contests. All eyes will now be on whether Akhilesh Yadav proceeds with the Ayodhya visit and how Muslim voters in western UP, a region where AIMIM has been active, respond.
Point of View
He forces the SP to either defend or distance itself from a move aimed squarely at Hindu swing voters. The Congress charge that AIMIM consistently delivers votes to the BJP — backed by Maharashtra constituency-level data — deserves more scrutiny than it typically receives; the pattern has repeated across Bihar, UP, and now Maharashtra. What mainstream coverage underweights is that this row benefits the BJP twice over: it divides opposition messaging and keeps the Ram Temple in the headlines. The real question before UP 2027 is whether AIMIM's presence will once again fragment the non-BJP vote in marginal seats, or whether the SP has found a way to insulate its coalition from that squeeze.
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Owaisi say about Akhilesh Yadav's Ram Temple visit?
At a public rally in Meerut on 15 November 2026, Owaisi said 'Akhilesh is going to the place where we prayed for 400 years,' referencing the Babri Masjid that stood at the Ram Temple site before its demolition in 1992. The remark was widely interpreted as a challenge to Akhilesh Yadav's decision to visit the Ayodhya temple.
How did the Samajwadi Party respond to Owaisi's remarks?
SP spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand called Owaisi a 'political tourist' who restricts his activity to election-bound states and never questions the ruling BJP or the UP government. He asked how long Owaisi would continue targeting the Opposition while sparing those in power.
What was the Congress party's criticism of Owaisi?
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that Owaisi's political presence has consistently benefited the BJP by splitting opposition votes, citing Maharashtra Assembly elections where AIMIM's presence reportedly contributed to losses in 22-23 constituencies beyond the four it won. Tiwari described BJP and Owaisi as 'twin brothers separated at the Kumbh Mela.'
What was the BJP's reaction to the Owaisi-SP spat?
BJP leaders largely distanced themselves from the row. Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav suggested Owaisi was trying to negotiate an alliance with the SP that had broken down, while BJP leader Ram Kadam said both parties were 'fighting for their existence' and would not be able to challenge Modi's leadership in Uttar Pradesh.
Why does this controversy matter ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections?
The row highlights the intersection of Hindu-Muslim identity politics and electoral coalition-building in UP ahead of the state's Assembly elections. Akhilesh Yadav's planned Ram Temple visit signals an outreach to Hindu voters, while Owaisi's public objection could complicate the SP's attempts to retain Muslim support. Critics argue AIMIM's interventions historically fragment opposition vote shares, making such public confrontations strategically significant.
