Lucknow, Feb. 3 -- The alleged gang rape and murder of a 22-year-old woman in Ayodhya district has drawn sharp reactions from leaders of several political parties.

While Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad said he would raise the issue in Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress demanded strict action against the culprits, as well as police officials for laxity in the case. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati also demanded strict action against the culprits.

The Milkipur assembly seat of Ayodhya is set for a bypoll on February 5. The votes will be counted on February 8. The seat fell vacant after Prasad, then MLA from Milkipur, won the 2024 parliamentary elections. The contest there has become bipolar between t...