That strategy had paid off handsomely for the BJP. The BJP actively working on the religion angle ahead of the coming assembly election, the opposition is trying to create an atmosphere reminiscent of the 2024 general elections by weaving together a BDM’ (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) vote bank.
Yogi extended a counter-challenge. Still, it was Ayodhya that he picked to challenge the Chief Minister. Accepting the challenge in Balrampur, Yogi retorted by asking Akhilesh Yadav to come forward and contest against him. Asaduddin Owaisi, meanwhile, has challenged Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Sambhal – which seems to be adding to the Hindutva agenda. His challenge came as state minister Om Prakash Rajbhar questioned why Akhilesh Yadav did not visit Mathura. Meanwhile, by fielding candidates from the Sonkar and Rawat communities, the party has sought to woo the Gaur and Jatav Dalit vote banks. Efforts to consolidate support among the ‘Upper Castes’ (Savarnas) are evident in the decision to field two Brahmins and one Rajput.
After Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath invoked the “80-20” formula during the Rajya Sabha election, Akhilesh Yadav challenged him to contest from Ayodhya. During his visit to Ayodhya, the Samajwadi Party president had attended a “Bhagwat Katha (religious discourse)” but did not visit the Ram Mandir for darshan.
Addressing questions on these challenges, Akhilesh Yadav remarked that the Chief Minister is not the one who decides ticket allocations. Yogi responded by saying he was pleased to have so many options available to him.
