Adityanath pushes nationalist plank in bypoll-bound Milkipur

Yogi Adityanath urges voters in Ayodhya to support nationalist forces, criticizes SP for opposing development initiatives and spreading false propaganda.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday (January 24, 2025) addressed an election meeting in Ayodhya’s Milkipur constituency and asked the electorate to ensure victory for the nationalist forces. He reminded them that the Opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) had the blood of the kar sewaks on its hands.

He said the SP had played with “the soul of India” by opposing the Ram Temple and the naming of the international airport at Ayodhya after Maharishi Valmiki.

Mr. Adityanath, in an attempt to reach out to Dalit voters, charged the SP with opposing the development of the birthplace of Guru Ravidas, who is highly revered by the community.

“During the Samajwadi Party government, the bigger the mafia, the bigger the position he got in their government. If SP had its way, then the name of Shri Ayodhya Dham would have been erased. It is time to ensure the victory of rashtravadi (nationalist) forces from Milkipur,” he said, campaigning for BJP candidate Chandrabhanu Paswan.

“SP leaders like Moeed Khan, who disrespected a Dalit daughter, are celebrated as a hero. This behaviour reflects SP’s true character. They are the same people who had made the Saryu river red with the blood of kar sevaks. Be cautious from them, they used all the might to ensure that no one could shake the structure of slavery,” he added.

The byelection for Milkipur Vidhan Sabha is on February 5 and the result will be declared on February 8. The high-stake election was necessitated by the victory of sitting SP MLA Awdhesh Prasad who won from the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 parliamentary polls, defeating BJP’s two-time sitting MP Lallu Singh.

Mr. Adityanath alleged that the SP played with the faith of India by spreading false propaganda about Maha Kumbh. “When the country and the world are getting attracted towards the land of Prayagraj due to Maha Kumbh, then the President of Samajwadi Party and former Chief Minister is spreading false propaganda about Maha Kumbh every day. They are playing with the faith of India,” he said, adding that his entire Cabinet had the privilege of taking a dip at the Triveni Sangam on January 22.