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2h ago

Ayodhya’s 10th Deepotsav Becomes a Political Stage

Top leaders used a record riverfront lighting and large festival platform to showcase Ayodhya’s makeover while unresolved donation probes and an opposition temple visit have sharpened election‑year tensions.

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and other dignitaries during the 10th Deepotsav celebrations, in Ayodhya.
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Vice-President of India CP Radhakrishnan performs aarti on the Saryu banks in Ayodhya on Saturday. (ANI PHOTO)
Samajwadi Party national president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav attended a religious event in Ayodhya in October but did not visit the Ram temple. (FILE PHOTO)

Overview

  • The 10th Deepotsav featured a record display on Saturday with more than 30–36 lakh diyas placed across 56 ghats, large cultural programs and a 2,100‑drone show that drew thousands of visitors and 35,000 volunteers.
  • Vice‑President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the Saryu Maha Aarti and used speeches to tie the Ram temple and city redevelopment to law‑and‑order and development gains under the current government.
  • Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced a family visit to the Ram temple on December 12, prompting BJP leaders and Yogi Adityanath to demand he first apologise for the 1990 firing on karsevaks, turning the trip into a flashpoint ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections.
  • The donation‑misappropriation allegations raised earlier this year remain unresolved in public debate after a government SIT produced arrests, roughly ₹80 lakh in recoveries and resignations of trust functionaries, keeping accountability issues linked to the shrine in focus.
  • Coverage divides reflect political stakes: ruling party reports stress Ayodhya’s infrastructure and cultural revival while opposition messaging presents the planned temple visit as outreach to Hindu voters and criticises past actions; the coming weeks could set the tone for electoral narratives and public scrutiny.