Let us fight from Ayodhya, says Yogi as he accepts Akhilesh’s challenge, dares the SP chief to contest in opposition

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. File | Photo Credit: ANI Uttar PradeshChief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday (October 10, 2026) accepted Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav’s challenge to contest the upcoming Assembly polls from Ayodhya.Also read | Akhilesh dares CM Yogi to contest from Ayodhya in assembly election Mr. Adityanath dared the SP chief to contest against him from the seat. “The Babua of the Samajwadi Party has lost his cool. He tells me that I should prove myself by contesting elections from Ayodhya. I visit there repeatedly to ensure that there is no negligence in development. Ayodhya, where the SP used to provide electricity for only three to four hours and where the SP government imposed a ban on saying Jai Shri Ram, is once again becoming a new example of Ram Rajya and reminding people of the Treta Yuga. Come, let us try our luck from Ayodhya. You [Akhilesh Yadav] should also file your nomination from Ayodhya, and I will too. Let us both try our luck once. Why fight through disciples? The fight should be face-to-face,” said Mr. Adityanath, inaugurating the foundation stones for 78 projects worth more than ₹803 crore for the development of Balrampur.The CM took a dig, saying that those who grovel before mafias and offer prayers at their graves would hardly be able to fight us, because the public has already sent them packing. Mr. Adityanath added that the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly election results will once again be 80-20. “The Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP]-led National Democratic Alliance [NDA] will win 80% of the seats, while their alliance will get 20%,” said the U.P. CM. Mr. Adityanath, question the PDA pitch of the SP; nepotism is deep-rooted within the opposition party. “Not PDA, but the Uncle of Akhilesh and a Wealthy Tycoon Went to the Rajya Sabha. The ‘Family Development Authority’ has no vision beyond its own family. In the recent Rajya Sabha elections, they fielded two candidates, but neither was a Dalit, a backward-class candidate [Kurmi, Pal, etc.], a Brahmin, a Kayastha, a Vaishya, a Kshatriya, a Khatri, etc. The uncle of Akhilesh Yadav [Ram Gopal Yadav] was the candidate for one seat, while they sold the other seat to a wealthy tycoon,” added the U.P. CM. Published - October 11, 2026 10:25 am IST