Photo: Hindustan Times
SP leaders Akhilesh and Dimple Yadav schedule Ayodhya Ram Temple visit on Dec. 12
TL;DR
- Akhilesh and Dimple Yadav to tour Ram Temple and Hanumangarhi on Dec. 12
- First visit by Akhilesh since the temple’s Jan 2024 opening
- Trip announced by SP MLA Pawan Pandey ahead of 2027 UP elections
- Visit coincides with BJP‑led Deepotsav celebrations
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav will travel to Ayodhya on December 12 to see the Ram Temple and the nearby Hanumangarhi shrine, according to former SP MLA Pawan Pandey.
The outing marks Akhilesh’s first trip to the temple since its inauguration in January 2024, a point the ruling BJP has previously used to criticize the opposition.
Pandey, who is contesting the Ayodhya seat again for the SP, said the couple will be accompanied by family members, meet local saints and seek blessings during the visit.
The announcement arrives as Uttar Pradesh’s BJP government, led by Yogi Adityanath, prepares for Deepotsav festivities in the temple town, intensifying the political atmosphere ahead of the state assembly elections slated for early 2027.
Why It Matters
The planned visit by senior Samajwadi Party figures comes as Uttar Pradesh gears up for its 2027 state elections, a contest that draws attention from Indian communities in the United States, Canada and India. The timing, aligned with BJP‑organized Deepotsav events, underscores the temple’s role as a political flashpoint, highlighting how religious symbolism is being leveraged by rival parties ahead of a crucial electoral battle.
Nov 7, 2026 · Updated 11/7/2026, 5:38:35 PM · Reported with: Hindustan Times, Times of India (India)
Sources (3)
NRI Bytes writes its own articles from the reporting below.
Hindustan Times — ‘Apologise to Ram Bhakts first’: Yogi Adityanath ahead of Akhilesh Yadav's visit to AyodhyaTimes of India (India) — Akhilesh, Dimple Yadav to visit Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Dec 12, says SP leader Pandey ahead of UP pollsHindustan Times — Akhilesh Yadav to visit Ayodhya Ram Temple with family for first time since consecrationUp next · Politics
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