Utter Pradesh: In the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in 2022, political circles are abuzz with speculation that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath may contest the election from the Ayodhya constituency.

In light of this, Ved Prakash Gupta, who is the member of the legislative assembly (MLA) from Ayodhya, said on Sunday that he is ready to give up his seat for the chief minister.

"It will be a matter of pride and luck for all us people of Ayodhya if the chief minister fights the election from here. The party will decide who has to contest from where. Ayodhya is one of the chief minister's priorities," BJP MLA Ved Prakash Gupta said.

Ved Prakash Gupta continued, "If Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wants to contest from Ayodhya, we will all campaign for him. Once again, BJP will form the government in the state."

CONGRESS, SAMAJWADI PARTY REACT

On the rumour of CM Yogi Adityanath contesting the upcoming election from Ayodhya, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said, "The MLAs who want Yogi Adityanath to contest from Ayodhya will have to explain what work he has done for the constituency in the last four years. How many people have been given employment? How many villages have a proper drinking water system? How many crimes against women took place? How many people died due to Covid-19 in each village?"

"Yogi ji is doing the work of headline management. If he [MLA Ved Prakash Gupta] stops his sycophancy and works in his field, that will be better," Rajput continued.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Juhi Singh said, "Since 2017, the public has been seeing the insensitivity of the present government. There is deteriorating law and order, rising unemployment, atrocities against farmers and a dictatorial attitude. CM Yogi Adityanath must answer why he did not take a stand on rape. Anyone can contest elections from anywhere, but the questions will remain the same and the government will have to answer."