Ram temple work on, Ayodhya civic polls a prestige battle for cautious BJP

A reason for the party’s concern is that in the 2022 Assembly elections it bagged three of the district’s five Assembly seats while the Samajwadi Party (SP) took home the other two. With the Ram temple expected to be ready by next year, the civic polls have turned into a prestige battle for the party.

“Ram temple is the BJP’s biggest commitment, which is being fulfilled and the temple is likely to be opened for devotees before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Various development works, including the widening of streets, parking areas, drainage system, and an international airport, are going on. The railway station has been revamped and a river cruise is being planned on the Sarayu. If the BJP loses the civic polls, the Opposition may project that as a mandate against the BJP’s Hindutva agenda and development model. That will be a setback for the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections,” said a ruling party leader.

Another BJP leader said, “Earlier, residents in various neighbourhoods were upset with the government because their establishments were demolished for the widening of streets and roads. But they have received a good amount of compensation. Also, the party has told them that the development was for their better future because if pilgrims’ footfall increases after the opening of the Ram temple, that will create a source of revenue.”

Cabinet Minister Surya Pratap Shahi who is the minister in charge of Ayodhya district camped there in the run-up to the elections. His ministerial colleague Girish Yadav was also deployed for canvassing. Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad who is the president of BJP ally Nishad Party reached out to Nishad voters who live in areas along the Sarayu.

State BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, “The public in Ayodhya is happy with the development works by the Yogi Adityanath government. There is no resentment. Yogi ji has toured Ayodhya more compared to other districts. Our campaign has been extensive because all the party leaders have their connection with Ayodhya and they want to go there.”

For the mayoral election, BJP has fielded Mahant Girish Pati Tripathi who is the peethadhishwar of the Vashishth Peeth. Tripathi is up against Alok Pandey of the Samajwadi Party. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has given the ticket to Ram Murti Yadav and the Congress has fielded Pramila Rajpoot.

In the 2017 civic polls, the BJP won 30 of all 60 municipal wards in Ayodhya town. The party’s target this time is bagging at least 50 wards. “As Muslims are in a sizable number in some wards, we are not sure of our win there,” said a BJP leader.