Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said Ayodhya had undergone a major transformation under his administration, moving from inadequate infrastructure and poor sanitation to improved connectivity, civic amenities and sustainable energy development. He described the city as the country’s number one solar city.

Speaking in Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath recalled Ayodhya’s condition when his government assumed office in 2017. He said the city had lacked roads, electricity, sanitation and other basic amenities, while stagnant water had affected the surroundings of Ram Ki Paidi.

The chief minister said his government had focused on improving water management and cleanliness in the temple town. He explained that the flow of the Saryu had been managed to maintain a continuous movement of water, while broader redevelopment efforts had addressed narrow lanes and improved access to the city.

Adityanath said Ayodhya now had four-lane roads, temples and statues dedicated to revered saints, along with a more developed urban appearance. He also linked the city’s changing image to its expansion in renewable energy, describing its progress from a place that once lacked electricity to a leading solar city.

Earlier, the chief minister criticised the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal, accusing them of undermining constitutional institutions. He also opposed their protests against the Special Intensive Revision exercise, alleging that the parties were weakening democratic institutions for political gain.

The remarks came ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, in which the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is seeking a third consecutive term. In the 2022 Assembly election, BJP candidate Ved Prakash won the Ayodhya seat by 19,990 votes against the Samajwadi Party candidate. However, in the 2024 General Election, the BJP lost the Faizabad seat, which includes Ayodhya, to Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad by 54,567 votes.