LUCKNOW, Nov. 11 -- Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's announcement that he would visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on December 12 has triggered a political slugfest in Uttar Pradesh, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) challenging him to visit the temple on December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, and apologise for the killing of kar sevaks during the then SP government.

With the high-stakes 2027 assembly elections just months away, Ayodhya is once again at the centre of Uttar Pradesh politics.

The BJP on Tuesday intensified its attack on the SP chief over his proposed visit. State BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary challenged Yadav to visit Ayodhya on December 6 instead and apologise for the killing of kar sevak...