Calling the upcoming Milkipur bypoll in Ayodhya a "direct contest between people and administration", Samajwadi Party supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said it is not just an election but a challenge. Addressing a rally in Ayodhya on the last day of campaigning, Yadav also said Milkipur will send a strong message for the future of Uttar Pradesh politics.
The SP chief also targeted the state administration over the handling of the Maha Kumbh stampede at Prayagraj, alleging mismanagement and under-reporting of casualties.
"They claim crores have taken a dip in the Maha Kumbh, but they are unable to provide the real count of those who lost their lives in the stampede. The figure of 30 deaths they have given is not correct," he said.
Taking a dig at incumbent chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Yadav said, "He says he wakes up at 3.00 am to monitor arrangements, but when the tragedy happened, where was he?"
"We are receiving information that many people are still looking for their family members. The people who said there were arrangements for over 100 crore devotees, crores of devotees had to return without taking a bath due to those same people," he claimed. Yadav also alleged that those who reached Varanasi and Ayodhya after visiting the Maha Kumbh also failed to get a darshan.
Again hitting out at Adityanath, Yadav said one becomes yogi by following the path of truth and not by wearing a particular vastra (cloth). "Those who hide the truth can never be a yogi... they are hiding the death toll (of the stampede). I want them to disclose the exact figures," he added.
He claimed that for the first time, the Sanatan tradition of shahi snan was broken. "Shahi snan takes place as per muhurt (auspicious moment) and nakshatra (celestial bodies). This is for the first time that Sanatan tradition broke and the government hid the (stampede) incident."
Promising to make Ayodhya a world class city if voted to power in the 2027 assembly polls, Yadav alleged that people's lands were grabbed for construction of five-star hotels. "If there is any land mafia, it is from the BJP," he claimed.
Asking people to vote in large numbers in the bypoll, Yadav said, "If officials cross the Lakshman rekha, which is the Constitution, people know how Bali was killed by Lord Ram. People of Ayodhya should do the same," he said.
Yadav also said the bypoll would set the direction for the 2027 state assembly elections, and accused the current BJP government in the state of engaging in divisive politics while failing to address real issues.
Referring to the victory of the SP's Awadhesh Prasad from the Faizabad seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Yadav said the people of Ayodhya had already rejected communal politics. "The BJP tried to create a communal atmosphere, but Ayodhya's voters stood with Samajwadis. Now, Milkipur will send another strong message for the future of Uttar Pradesh politics," he added.
He alleged that the BJP had deliberately postponed the Milkipur bypoll, fearing a loss. "This is not just an election, it is a challenge. The BJP knew that the people of Milkipur would never abandon the Samajwadi Party, so they ensured the poll was not held earlier. But those who run from elections will have to face the people's verdict," Yadav said, addressing the rally in support of party candidate Ajit Prasad.
The Milkipur assembly seat fell vacant after Prasad was elected to the Lok Sabha from Faizabad. The bypoll is scheduled for 5 February and the results will be announced on 8 February. The contest is primarily between the SP and the BJP, with both parties deploying senior leaders for campaigning.
Based on PTI inputs
