# OP Rajbhar challenges Akhilesh Yadav to visit Mathura and Varanasi after Ayodhya tour announcement

> Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit Ayodhya with his family on December 12 to offer prayers to Ram Lalla. The upcoming visit has sparked sharp political reactions from cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, while party MPs defend the move as a reflection of growing public support.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttar Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-11-07 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/op-rajbhar-challenges-akhilesh-yadav-to-visit-mathura-and-varanasi-after-ayodhya-tour-announcement-57544 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Akhilesh Yadav, Om Prakash Rajbhar, Ayodhya Ram Temple, Uttar Pradesh Politics, Brajesh Pathak, Awadhesh Prasad

The political landscape in Uttar Pradesh has heated up following the announcement of a major religious visit by opposition leadership. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is set to travel to Ayodhya on December 12 alongside his family members. According to the itinerary, he will first visit the sacred Hanuman Garhi temple before proceeding to offer prayers to Lord Ram Lalla. This will mark his very first visit to the temple since the grand consecration ceremony held in January 2024. The announcement was officially shared by party leader and former minister Tej Narayan Pandey, popularly known as Pawan Pandey, who confirmed that he will accompany Akhilesh Yadav and his family throughout the trip. The timing of this scheduled pilgrimage has drawn significant political attention, coming just months ahead of the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

 

## Om Prakash Rajbhar Questions the Visit
 Reacting sharply to the news, Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar launched a verbal attack on the opposition leader. Rajbhar questioned the intent behind the visit, recalling past events where he alleged that the Samajwadi Party chief had previously visited Ayodhya holding a trident and a discus while delivering speeches, yet failed to seek the blessings of Lord Ram. He also pointed out a past visit to Varanasi where, according to him, the leader did not perform rituals for Lord Shiva. Taking to social media platform X earlier, Rajbhar had remarked that the sudden decision to visit Ayodhya seemed timed with the approaching elections, and accordingly challenged the leader to announce specific dates for visiting Mathura and काशी as well.

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## Brajesh Pathak and Awadhesh Prasad Respond
 Weighing in on the controversy, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak criticized the opposition stance, stating that everyone is always welcome at temples and visiting a sacred place does not require any formal invitation. Meanwhile, Ayodhya MP and party leader Awadhesh Prasad hit back at the ruling party, highlighting that a grand temple dedicated to Kedareshwar Maharaj is nearing completion in the region as a unique architectural marvel. He explained that following its consecration, the party national president will arrive with his family to seek divine blessings. Prasad asserted that the ruling party leaders are feeling insecure due to the soaring popularity, affection, and trust that ordinary citizens have shown toward Akhilesh Yadav, contrasting it with what he described as a fast-fading public confidence in the current administration.

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## What this means for you
This political development is set to intensify cultural and electoral debates across the state ahead of the upcoming legislative assembly elections.

- **Across India:** Political parties at the national level continue to integrate religious and cultural symbolism into their core electoral strategies. This dynamic will likely trigger more verbal duels and strategic alignments among rival factions in the coming weeks.
- **In Uttar Pradesh:** Local residents and everyday commuters in Ayodhya and surrounding areas may experience temporary security adjustments and heightened police deployment during high-profile VIP visits. The escalating rhetoric will also amplify political discussions and campaign preparations across local communities.

## Why this happened
This political controversy emerged directly from the scheduled religious pilgrimage announced by the opposition leader and the subsequent pushback from the ruling administration.

- **Electoral Timing:** The timing of the pilgrimage, announced just months ahead of the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, has made political parties keenly sensitive to its symbolic value.
- **Ideological Rhetoric:** Ruling party leaders routinely scrutinize the religious visits of opposition figures, creating a continuous cycle of political challenges and counter-challenges over faith and practice.
- **Local Developments:** Ongoing religious construction projects in the region often become focal points for political competition, with various local leaders attempting to leverage them for public support and narrative control.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When is Akhilesh Yadav visiting Ayodhya?
Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to visit Ayodhya with his family on December 12.

### 2. Where will he go first during his Ayodhya visit?
He will first visit the Hanuman Garhi temple before offering prayers to Ram Lalla.

### 3. What did Om Prakash Rajbhar demand from Akhilesh Yadav?
Om Prakash Rajbhar stated that after announcing his Ayodhya trip, he should also declare dates for visiting Mathura and Varanasi.

### 4. How did Brajesh Pathak react to the visit?
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak stated that everyone is welcomed at temples and visiting a sacred site does not require any invitation.

### 5. Which temple did Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad mention?
Awadhesh Prasad mentioned that a grand temple dedicated to Kedareshwar Maharaj is nearing completion in the area.

### 6. Is this his first visit to Ayodhya since the consecration?
This will be his first visit to Ayodhya following the consecration ceremony of the temple in January 2024.

### 7. Who originally announced this upcoming trip?
The visit was announced by Samajwadi Party leader and former minister Tej Narayan Pandey, also known as Pawan Pandey.

### 8. What upcoming elections are associated with the timing of this visit?
The announcement comes just months ahead of the crucial 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

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