New Delhi, Oct. 10 -- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday accepted Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav's challenge to contest the Assembly election from Ayodhya, saying the two should face each other directly instead of fighting through their supporters.
Responding to Akhilesh's challenge, Yogi said the SP chief should file his nomination from Ayodhya and he would do the same, setting the stage for a direct political contest.
"Mr Akhilesh, you should contest from Ayodhya, and I will also contest. You file your nomination and I will file mine. Let us try our luck once. Why fight through disciples? The contest should be face-to-face. Let us settle this once and for all," Yogi said while addressing a programme in Balrampur on Saturday.
Akhilesh had challenged the chief minister on Friday, saying that if Yogi was so confident despite making tall claims, he should contest the election from Ayodhya himself. The SP chief had also alleged that people would not forgive those who had stolen religious donations and public money.
Taking a swipe at Akhilesh, Yogi said the SP chief was already rattled and questioned his ability to take him on directly.
"SP's young leader is already rattled. These are the people who bowed before mafias and offered prayers at their graves. What can they fight against us? They do not have the courage. The people have already shown them the door," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.