'Fight should be face-to-face': CM Yogi accepts Akhilesh's Ayodhya challenge

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday accepted Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav’s challenge to contest the upcoming assembly elections from Ayodhya. Addressing a public meeting in Balrampur, Adityanath invited Yadav to contest against him from the temple town, saying the two leaders should face each other directly.“Akhilesh ji, Ayodhya is our sacred abode. I visit Ayodhya repeatedly to ensure that there is no lapse in its development, and the identity of Uttar Pradesh is not tarnished in any way. It is a centre of our faith and devotion. We go there not to contest elections, but for its development,” Adityanath said.“I invite you to file your nomination from Ayodhya, and I will too, and try my luck there once. Let it be decided! The fight should be face-to-face,” he added.The challenge comes two days after Yadav dared the chief minister to contest from Ayodhya.