Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's scheduled visit to Ayodhya on 8 October 2026 has sparked calls from local religious figures urging him to also visit the Ram Temple and seek the blessings of Lord Ram. The visit, primarily to attend a week-long religious programme, is being watched closely given its timing ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

What the Saints Said

Peethadhishwar of Tapasvi Chhawni, Jagatguru Paramhans Acharya, expressed hope that Yadav would make time for the Ram Temple during his stay. 'SP chief and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is visiting Ayodhya, and we hope he will visit the Ram Mandir to seek His blessings. In recent days, a financial irregularity occurred, and he tweeted about it. When asked how he found out, he claimed that Ram Ji told him. Therefore, he must touch Lord Ram's feet. If he doesn't, it will send a message that he wants to demean Sanatan Dharma,' Paramhans Acharya said.

Devesh Acharya, a priest at Hanumangarhi, also welcomed the proposed visit while setting conditions of his own. 'Former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is coming to Ayodhya on October 8, which is good news. We want him to visit the Ram Temple and seek the blessings of Lord Ram along with his family, since he is coming here to attend a religious event. He must apologise to Lord Ram for coming late. If he doesn't do so, it will reflect his party's anti-Sanatan ideology. Returning without doing darshan would be highly unfortunate for Akhilesh Yadav and his party,' Devesh Acharya said.

Why Yadav Is Visiting Ayodhya

Yadav is scheduled to attend the concluding session of the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha, a week-long religious programme organised by former MLA and SP leader Tej Narayan Pandey, popularly known as Pawan Pandey, in the Krishnaapur-Khanpur Rasoolabad area. He is expected to spend approximately one hour at the event, offer prayers, and interact with devotees.

Notably, the SP has already named Pawan Pandey as its candidate from the Ayodhya Assembly constituency for the 2027 UP polls, lending the visit a clear political dimension alongside its religious character.

The Political Backdrop

The visit comes as political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections gathers momentum. Ayodhya, always a charged constituency, has gained further national salience since the consecration of the Ram Temple. For the SP, which has historically faced accusations of soft-pedalling Hindu religious sentiment, Yadav's presence in Ayodhya — even for a private religious gathering — carries symbolic weight. Critics argue that the saints' demands amount to a political litmus test wrapped in religious framing, while supporters of the call say it is a straightforward expression of expectation from a public figure visiting a sacred city.

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether Yadav will include a Ram Temple visit in his 8 October itinerary. His team has not yet responded publicly to the saints' calls. Political observers note that any decision — to visit or to skip — will be scrutinised for its signal about the SP's positioning on religious politics ahead of 2027.