After UP Lok Sabha defeat, big change in Yogi government’s policy towards Ayodhya traders |

Lucknow: Shattered by the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections in which the BJP even lost the Faizabad (Ayodhya) elections, the Yogi government has decided to course-correct by changing its policy towards traders in Ayodhya from a business-centric approach to prioritizing local interests.

Due to the construction of Ram Path, hundreds of shops were demolished between Faizabad and Ayodhya. Initially, shop owners had to pay Rs 20 to 25 lakh in advance to acquire new shops, which many local traders were unable to fulfill. This policy effectively prevented them from acquiring new stores due to the high costs imposed by the Ayodhya Development Authority.

After the elections, the Yogi government announced a major policy change to support local traders affected by the Ram Path project. The new policy enables displaced shopkeepers to acquire 500 newly constructed shops under interest-free, long-term installment plans.

The BJP won only 33 of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, with the most surprising defeat in Ayodhya, where two-time BJP MP Lallu Singh was defeated by Awdhesh Prasad of the Samajwadi Party. Despite emphasizing the construction of Ram Mandir in its campaign, the BJP lost the Lok Sabha seat in Faizabad, crucial to its temple politics, due to the discontent of local shopkeepers who felt betrayed.

Many residents whose shops were demolished for the construction of Ram Path expressed their dissatisfaction through voting. This discontent was a major factor in the BJP’s defeat in Ayodhya. Many entrepreneurs and residents believed that the compensation received was grossly insufficient.