Akhilesh’s proposed Ayodhya visit to broaden his PDA outreach, say political analysts

Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav. File | Photo Credit: ANI

After the announcement of Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s proposed visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on December 12 for the first time since its consecration two years ago, a political slugfest has ensued with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) calling the visit politically motivated.

Also read | Apologise to saints, devotees before visiting Ayodhya: Adityanath ahead of Akhilesh’s visit

Analysts see the visit as attempts by the SP chief to leave no stone unturned before Assembly polls early next year and addressing the concerns of Brahmins, who are traditionally associated with temple priesthood. The visit holds significance as it is taking place post the Ram Temple donation embezzlement episode. It is also being seen as an attempt to blunt the BJP’s anti-Hindu rhetoric against the SP.

Party spokesperson Pawan Pandey last week said that Mr. Yadav will go to Hanuman Garhi with his MP wife Dimple Yadav and other family members and later to the Ram Temple on December 12.

Faith is personal: Akhilesh

“Akhilesh Yadav ji made it clear several times that religion and faith are personal issues, and he will visit [Lord] Ramlalla in Ayodhya after the completion of the Kedareshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and situated on the same latitude as the Kedarnath Dham. The BJP anxiety and propaganda regarding his visit further reinforces that they do not want to contest the U.P. Assembly issue on their 10 years of achievement and governance,” said Sudhir Panwar, a senior SP leader.

Hitting out at the SP chief over the proposed visit, U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath alleged that those who had neglected the holy town, opened fire on Lord Ram’s devotees and subjected saints to police action in the past were welcome to visit, but only after seeking forgiveness. “Those who had neglected and insulted [Ayodhya], who had opened fire on Lord Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathi charge, should certainly come to Ayodhya, but only after apologising. Let them apologise once to devotees and once to the saints,” said Mr. Adityanath, addressing the 10^th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya on November 7.

Outreach to upper castes

“The SP is trying to broaden its PDA [Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak] outreach, beyond the backward classes, Scheduled Castes [SCs] and Muslims. Akhilesh Yadav is aware that in the 2022 Assembly polls, despite getting a sizeable vote share, he was far from forming the government. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, receiving sizeable votes from non-Yadav Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and SCs, along with Yadavs and Muslims, the SP-Congress alliance was in a tight contest with the BJP in U.P. Hence, through the Ram Temple outreach, the SP is not leaving any stone unturned in addressing castes across the State, including Brahmins and other upper castes,” said Shashikant Pandey, a political scientist teaching at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Lucknow.

Umakant Pandey, a political analyst based in Lucknow, said Brahmins have traditionally functioned as priests responsible for daily worship at temples, hence the visit can be linked to a community outreach. “The visit can also be seen as attempts to blunt the BJP’s anti-Hindu rhetoric against the Samajwadi Party as the ruling party always attempts to target late Mulayam Singh Yadav for ordering firing at kar sevaks in early 1990s, to protest against the Babri mosque,” said the political analyst.

Published - November 09, 2026 10:08 pm IST