Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the politicization of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, suggesting that the only thing left for the BJP is to announce Lord Ram as their candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Raut’s remarks come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ayodhya for the inauguration of the Ram Temple and the launch of various mega projects.
Raut criticized the BJP’s extensive campaigning for the Ram Temple event, stating, “So much politics is being done in the name of Lord Ram.” He described the inauguration of the Ram Temple as a “BJP event” rather than a national one.
Responding to a query about Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s participation in the idol consecration ceremony, Raut mentioned that Thackeray would attend but only after the BJP’s event concludes. He questioned the purity of the BJP’s involvement in the event and emphasized that it is not a national occasion.
Prime Minister Modi is set to inaugurate projects worth ₹11,000 crore in Ayodhya, including a new airport and a revamped railway station. The government has undertaken significant infrastructure development in Ayodhya, anticipating increased tourism after the consecration of the Ram Temple. The political discourse surrounding the Ram Temple has intensified as the event approaches, with parties engaging in rhetoric and positioning ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ayodhya is expected to boost the BJP’s electoral prospects, as the party fulfills one of its key poll promises with the inauguration of the Ram Temple.