Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on 6 July 2026 escalated the Ram temple donation row, alleging a power struggle inside the BJP and the Uttar Pradesh government that, he said, risks eroding faith in Ayodhya. He framed the controversy as a governance crisis rather than a routine probe.
Allegations centred on faith and control
Yadav argued that political one-upmanship has overshadowed the protection of religious sentiment. He claimed the ruling establishment is locked in a contest for control, saying those in power have been ‘blinded by the treasure’.
He alleged the so-called double-engine arrangement is pulling in opposite directions and not working collaboratively. According to him, the result is that devotion is being trifled with while leaders stay silent.
SIT probe becomes a flashpoint
Pointing to the investigation into the donation controversy, Yadav said the choice of an SIT reflects factional strains. He contended that if the issue belonged to agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, CBI or Income Tax, it would have been handled in Delhi.
Instead, he noted, Lucknow took charge before the Centre, which he described as evidence of an internal power contest. He urged religious institutions to step in, invoking Lord Ram as he appealed for wider attention.
Calls to institutions and devotees
Yadav sought intervention from multiple quarters, including the Supreme Court and the Lok Sabha Speaker. He also appealed to saints of Ayodhya, Ram devotees worldwide, the citizens of Ayodhya, and the PDA communities to take cognisance.
He alleged that the BJP can go to any extent in spreading false propaganda, and asked religious leaders and organisations to treat the matter with urgency.
Organisation vs government: the Lucknow signal
The SP president cited BJP National President Nitin Nabin’s visit to Lucknow as a sign of strain between the party organisation and the state government. He said the city felt as if a curfew had been imposed during the visit.
Taking a jab at a tea stall photo-op, Yadav remarked, ‘When you have nothing to do, you have tea.’ He argued that the tension he sees between the organisational and administrative arms is now out in the open.
Governance critiques beyond Ayodhya
Moving beyond Ayodhya, Yadav attacked the government over what he called neglect of the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre. He said JPNIC was conceived as a museum of Jayaprakash Narayan’s political life with sports facilities and a convention centre, but alleged it has been ruined.
He linked the criticism to ideological disputes, claiming the BJP had once leaned on JP’s image to project socialist credentials. He also alleged animosity towards Muslim citizens, adding that the first proposer of the party’s national president was a Muslim.
Education and infrastructure under scrutiny
Citing newspaper reports, Yadav claimed Uttar Pradesh has seen the highest number of engineering colleges shutting down. He alleged the state leadership does not understand engineering.
He also attacked the design of the Rs 7,000-crore Green Corridor in Lucknow, claiming commuters would face repeated stoppages because of its layout.
Election stakes and the road ahead
With future elections in view, Yadav asserted that many ruling party leaders are seeking new constituencies. He challenged them to recontest from their current seats, saying the SP is prepared to defeat them there.
Here is what he wants institutions and citizens to watch next:
– How the SIT probe proceeds and who directs it
– Whether party-government friction eases or escalates
– Responses from Ayodhya’s saints and national institutions
Yadav’s press conference combined religious, administrative and political themes into a single criticism of the ruling party. By tying the donation dispute to alleged institutional tussles, he set up a narrative where faith and governance collide, keeping Ayodhya at the centre of a deepening political contest.
