A fresh mandir-masjid dispute is brewing in Malihabad, the mango belt on the outskirts of Lucknow, putting political parties, particularly the INDIA bloc, in a difficult position. The conflict over an old structure has brought local Muslims and Pasi Dalits face-to-face, making it challenging for the Samajwadi Party (SP) to take a clear stand.
Muslims are a key component of the SP's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) coalition, while a large number of Pasis supported the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, contributing to its biggest-ever win in Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sees a win-win situation and an opportunity to win back the Pasi community, which had been its supporter for several elections but drifted away in 2024.
As of Friday, the local administration sealed the structure, prohibiting anyone from entering the premises for namaz or prayer. The Pasis, led by Lakhan Army functionary Suraj Pasi, claim the structure in Kasmandi Kala village is an ancient fort with a Lord Shiva temple, built in the 11th century by King Kansa Pasi. However, Muslim residents assert it is an old mausoleum and mosque that has existed for centuries. The Muslim side claims the land was registered as a graveyard in the waqf record and that namaz was being offered at the adjacent mosque. Local Pasis, however, say namaz started only a few years ago and are demanding an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey and carbon dating.
Tensions escalated when members of the Lakhan Army began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa near the structure to counter the namaz being offered there. Malihabad SHO Surendra Singh Bhati told the Times of India that police sealed the disputed site to maintain law and order. He said neither Muslims would be allowed to offer namaz nor Hindus permitted to recite the Hanuman Chalisa at the location. A company of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Bhati added that police sealed all routes leading to the disputed structure and strengthened security arrangements to ensure peace and prevent any breach of public order.
Samajwadi Party MP from Mohanlalganj, RK Chaudhary, told TOI that a “big agency” could be behind the dispute and alleged that such a large-scale controversy could not have emerged without the backing of the BJP. He claimed the BJP was trying to derive political advantage from the situation. Observers say the controversy has the potential to strain the Muslim–Dalit social alignment seen in pockets of the state during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which benefited the India bloc and caused the BJP’s tally in UP to drop from 62 to 33 seats. The SP recorded its highest-ever haul of 37 seats.
Analysts attributed the results partly to a shift in support among OBC groups such as Kurmis, Rajbhars, and Kushwahas, as well as sections of non-Jatav Dalits — particularly the Pasi community, which is the second-largest Dalit subgroup in the state, constituting 5% of the total voting population. The shift was seen as a key factor in BJP’s losses in constituencies like Mohanlalganj (reserved), Barabanki, and Ayodhya. While SP candidates RK Chaudhary and Awadhesh Prasad won Mohanlalganj and Ayodhya respectively, Barabanki went to Congress candidate Tanuj Punia, whose party was part of the India bloc.
Chaudhary reiterated that the controversy aligns with what he described as the BJP’s agenda of polarisation. “All communities should live in harmony. Humanity is the biggest religion,” he said, adding that he had received a memorandum from Suraj Pasi and would consult senior party functionaries, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, on the issue.
Former Union minister and ex-MP from BJP, Kaushal Kishore, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He said the demand from the Pasi community was limited to protecting the fort associated with King Kansa Pasi through agencies like the Geological Survey of India. “In 2025, I invited former Deputy CM Dr. Dinesh Sharma to the place and held programmes demanding protection of various forts and buildings built by Pasi rulers,” he added.
Responding to the controversy, Suraj Pasi said his focus remained on securing protection for the fort. “If the structure is protected under the current government, the community will appreciate it. I have also written to MPs from the Pasi community seeking their support on the issue and ensuring that the fort is protected,” he said.
