Why BJP failed to get Ayodhya’s blessings despite Ram Mandir

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, consecrated in January, marked the completion of one of the saffron party's long-waited promises and was initially expected to boost the BJP's prospects in the Lok Sabha elections. However, the BJP suffered a major setback in Uttar Pradesh, with its tally almost halved.

One of its huge heartbreaks came from the results of the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Ayodhya. The Samajwadi Party defeated the BJP and the man who made it possible was Awadhesh Prasad. A Dalit leader from the "Yadav party" emerged victorious from Ayodhya's land, an unreserved seat. Here's all you need to know about Awadhesh Prasad:

Veteran MLA Awadhesh Prasad clinched the seat from the BJP in a high-profile contest. Prasad, a prominent Dalit leader, defeated BJP's two-time sitting MP Lallu Singh by 54,567 votes, securing substantial support from Dalit voters who previously supported the Congress in Faizabad.