Akhilesh Yadav Redefines PDA Ahead of Ayodhya Temple Visit
· India · Times of India, The Hindu
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has offered a new interpretation of the PDA acronym—'Pehle darshan, phir Aashirvaad'—in response to BJP criticism regarding his upcoming December 12 visit to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Yadav dismissed concerns about his outreach to the Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak communities, asserting that his family already holds the blessings of Shiv and Ram Gopal. The BJP, including Uttar Pradesh president Pankaj Chaudhary, has challenged the visit, labeling it a political ploy and demanding an apology for past actions against kar sevaks. This marks Yadav's first visit to the temple since its consecration in January 2024, occurring months before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
Why it matters
The exchange underscores the intense political competition in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. It highlights how religious visits are being used as a central point of contention between the Samajwadi Party and the BJP.
Read the original report — Times of India
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