BJP to target SP over Ram Temple donations, 1990 firing ahead of UP polls

The BJP is set to intensify attacks on the Samajwadi Party's position regarding the Ram Temple as Akhilesh Yadav's visit to Ayodhya adds fresh momentum to election-year politics in Uttar Pradesh. The opposition party's strategy will center on the SP's historical stance on the temple and alleged financial improprieties in temple management, officials indicated.

The Samajwadi Party has sought to put alleged donation irregularities at the Ram Temple on the political agenda several months ahead of the state assembly elections. The party's move reflects an attempt to shift focus to governance and administrative accountability at the newly constructed temple complex.

The Ram Temple, inaugurated in January 2024 after decades of legal and political battles, remains a significant touchstone in Uttar Pradesh's polarized political landscape. The BJP's counter-strategy aims to portray the SP as hostile to Hindu interests, recalling the 1990 incident during the Babri Masjid crisis when SP-led government forces opened fire on kar sevaks.

With assembly elections looming, both parties are positioning themselves on contrasting narratives surrounding the temple. The BJP seeks to consolidate its Hindu support base by highlighting the SP's historical opposition, while the SP attempts to redirect the conversation toward temple management and institutional integrity.