{
  "id": 13688202,
  "title": "Akhilesh says Pawan Pandey enough to beat BJP",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/akhilesh-says-pawan-pandey-enough-to-beat-bjp",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T09:22:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/akhilesh-yadav-hits-back-at-adityanaths-ayodhya-dare-says-pawan-pandey-enough-to-defeat-bjp/articleshow/134867972.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav rebuked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, following the latter's challenge to contest from Ayodhya. Yadav's candidate, Pawan Pandey, is enough to counter the arrogance of the BJP government, Yadav asserted. Addressing reporters after a ceremony at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre, Yadav mentioned that someone uncertain of receiving a party ticket was challenging him. He questioned whose ticket was finalized first, pointing out that Pawan Pandey was designated before Adityanath.\n\nYadav quipped that the chief minister, too, needs to secure a ticket, and that he must also plead for other party members to obtain theirs. The Samajwadi Party chief emphasized that only after confirming one's own ticket can someone challenge him. This came a day after Adityanath accepted Yadav's challenge to file his nomination from Ayodhya for the upcoming Assembly elections.\n\nAdityanath, who represents the Gorakhpur Urban Assembly constituency, urged both leaders to contest from Ayodhya. Akhilesh responded by saying that a young PDA Prahari (guardian of PDA) would be sufficient to overcome those responsible for the alleged theft of offerings, donations, and contributions in Ayodhya. He accused the BJP of remaining silent on the issue of alleged theft, suggesting their complicity.\n\nYadav cited the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the party won the Faizabad seat, located in Ayodhya, and questioned whether the BJP had learned anything from the outcome. The Samajwadi Party candidate in that constituency, Awadhesh Prasad, defeated the BJP's Lallu Singh in the 2024 general elections.\n\nThe chief minister's daring move follows criticism from Yadav about the lack of development in Ayodhya under the Samajwadi Party government, including inadequate electricity supply and littered streets. He also alleged restrictions on Ramlila performances and barricades erected in Ayodhya during the Samajwadi Party's tenure. The exchange highlights the intense political rivalry ahead of the early next year polls in Uttar Pradesh.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}