CONGRESS'S 'RAM RAM' TO AYODHYA TEMPLE INAUGURATION COULD HURT PARTY'S LS POLL PROSPECTS

 

Congress's 'Ram Ram' to Ayodhya Temple Inauguration Could Hurt Party's LS Poll Prospects

On January 22, the Congress opted to miss the "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh/Bharatiya Janata Party event" and instead attend the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha. It has also been said that, despite the fact that the temple is still under construction, the inauguration was rushed ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

The calculation was considered for several days. Many top officials believed that any benefits from Ram Mandir will be enjoyed by the BJP. When it comes to the Hindutva image, no one can match them. Even if Congress went, there would be no match. Furthermore, it risks losing minority votes.

 

WHY IT WORKS FOR TMC.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee clearly believed this when she said no. During the West Bengal elections, the 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan did not resonate electorally. So Banerjee isn't concerned about how the absence will affect her fortunes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

 

Why it might not work for CONGRESS

However, the case for Congress could differ. At a recent meeting with top leaders and state leaders, UP leaders demanded clarification, claiming it would harm their chances. Even now, some state officials have decided to go.

This is not the first time Congress has made a choice that will hurt it. The Congress, along with other opposition parties, had skipped both the bhoomipujan for the new Parliament building and the sengol ceremony. This gained it the reputation of being anti-Hindu. The BJP hasn't let the Congress forget this. But they still won't.

Aparajita Sarangi of the BJP told News18, "We knew they were anti-Hindu. They're against Ram. It's proven now."

The Congress responded, stating that "religion is a personal matter, and mixing politics with it was unethical." The opposition has also accused the BJP of utilizing the Ram Mandir and religion in the past just for political gain.

Such high-level decisions frequently put the party's members in a difficult position. For example, during the Madhya Pradesh elections, Kamal Nath refused to attend a joint INDIA front event just after the DMK fueled the Sanatan Dharma controversy.

Even now, individuals from the Hindi heartland are concerned about the Congress' decision. However, the senior leadership believes it is critical to create a secular image by avoiding any religious events centered on the Prime Minister.

However, the BJP will utilize it to convince voters that the Congress believes in appeasement politics.

Rahul Gandhi criticized the administration for the sengol ceremony at a public event abroad, claiming it was an unseen and unheard-of occasion, similar to when the Prime Minister prostrated himself before sadhus from the South in the past.