Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday ignited a fresh political controversy in the state  after making a pointed but unnamed attack on opposition leaders during a heated Assembly discussion.

Responding to a debate over alleged deaths linked to codeine-based cough syrup, the Chief Minister dismissed the allegations and asserted that no child in Uttar Pradesh had died due to the medicine. However, it was his political remark that drew maximum attention.

Without taking names, Yogi Adityanath took a swipe at senior opposition figures, remarking that there are “two people sitting in Delhi and Lucknow” who tend to leave the country whenever serious national discussions arise. The statement was widely seen as a dig at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The comment came amid loud protests by Samajwadi Party MLAs, who disrupted proceedings demanding accountability over the alleged codeine-linked deaths. The Chief Minister accused the opposition of spreading misinformation and politicising sensitive issues.

Within hours, Akhilesh Yadav hit back strongly, taking to social media platform X. In a sharp rebuttal, he accused the Chief Minister of lowering public discourse and dragging internal political rivalries into the Assembly.

Akhilesh wrote that those holding constitutional offices must maintain dignity and restraint, warning that crossing limits in public statements often leads to embarrassment and forced reversals. He also hinted at growing political tension between leaders based in Delhi and Lucknow.