Ram Temple rhetoric dominates rallies as Akhilesh and Yogi lock horns over Ayodhya narrative

As the Bihar election battle enters its final phase, the political temperature has soared with both the NDA and Mahagathbandhan invoking Lord Ram and Ayodhya to woo voters. In Motihari, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Congress, RJD, and Samajwadi Party of being anti-Ram, recalling that their governments once ordered lathi charges and opened fire on Ram devotees. He asserted that despite opposition, “Ram bhakts stood firm, and it was we who fulfilled the Ayodhya temple dream.” Meanwhile, addressing a rally in Purnea, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav countered Yogi’s claims, saying that “if anyone has Lord Ram’s blessings, it is the candidate of the Samajwadi Party.” He added that the BJP’s Ram Temple card failed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as the party lost even in Ayodhya, and Bihar voters are now rejecting fear-based politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, campaigning in Sitamarhi the birthplace of Goddess Sita launched sharp attacks on the RJD, branding it as a symbol of “jungle raj,” marked by corruption, crime, and chaos. Political analysts suggest that if the NDA secures victory, Yogi Adityanath’s image will be further strengthened ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh polls. However, a Mahagathbandhan win could elevate Akhilesh Yadav’s standing as a national-level challenger, setting the stage for a new power equation in Hindi heartland politics.