Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Akhilesh Yadav Says Pawan Pandey Can Defeat BJP in Ayodhya
Yogi Adityanath challenged Akhilesh Yadav to run for election in Ayodhya.
Yadav answered that his party’s candidate, Pawan Pandey, could defeat the BJP there.
Yadav also criticized Adityanath and said the people of Ayodhya would reject the BJP’s arrogance.
He pointed to his party’s victory in the 2024 election for the Faizabad seat, which includes Ayodhya.
Adityanath said he goes to Ayodhya to help with its development, not just to run for office.
He also said Ayodhya had problems when the Samajwadi Party was in power.
The two leaders disagree about Ayodhya’s development and who should contest there.
Their exchange comes ahead of the next state elections.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said Ayodhya candidate Pawan Pandey could defeat the BJP and counter what he called the government’s arrogance.
Yadav’s remarks followed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s invitation for him to contest against Adityanath in Ayodhya.
Adityanath said he visits Ayodhya to support its development and protect its identity, and challenged Yadav to file his nomination there.
Yadav cited the Samajwadi Party’s 2024 win in the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, where Awadhesh Prasad defeated BJP candidate Lallu Singh.
Adityanath criticized the former Samajwadi Party government’s record in Ayodhya, citing electricity shortages, garbage, and restrictions on Ramlila performances.
- Who
- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
- What
- Yadav responded to Adityanath’s challenge to contest from Ayodhya, saying party candidate Pawan Pandey could defeat the BJP.
- When
- Sunday, October 11; the report says state polls are expected early the following year.
- Where
- Lucknow, with the political exchange focused on Ayodhya.
- Why
- Adityanath had invited Yadav to contest from Ayodhya, prompting Yadav’s response.
Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party
Yogi Adityanath and BJP
Who should contest in Ayodhya
Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party
Yadav rejected the challenge’s premise and said Samajwadi Party candidate Pawan Pandey was enough to defeat the BJP there.
Yogi Adityanath and BJP
Adityanath invited Yadav to contest from Ayodhya and said he would also try his luck there.
Ayodhya’s development
Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party
Yadav questioned whether the BJP had learned from its defeat in the 2024 Faizabad election and accused people of giving alleged thieves a clean chit.
Yogi Adityanath and BJP
Adityanath said Ayodhya is now developing and alleged that, under the Samajwadi Party government, it faced limited electricity, garbage, restrictions on Ramlila, and barricades.
- Samajwadi Party candidate named
- Pawan Pandey
- Adityanath’s current assembly constituency
- Gorakhpur Urban
- 2024 Faizabad result
- Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad defeated BJP candidate Lallu Singh.
- Adityanath’s invitation
- He invited Yadav to file his nomination from Ayodhya and said he would also try his luck there.
- Reported election timing
- The state was set to head to polls early the following year.
- Yadav’s event in Lucknow
- He spoke to reporters after garlanding Jayaprakash Narayan’s statue at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre.