Day after ruling against BJP leaders, Yogi Adityanath to visit Ayodhya

May 31, 2017 08:31

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Ayodhya today and is expected to offer prayers at the makeshift Ram temple at the disputed Ram Janmbhoomi- Babri Masjid site.

The chief minister will be in Ayodhya, his first visit after taking charge, just a day after senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and union Minister Uma Bharti were charged by a Lucknow court with conspiracy to demolish the 16th century Babri mosque in 1992.

The CM's visit to Ayodhya immediately after trial began in the case on Tuesday has added to speculation on whether the Ram temple agenda, pushed to the backburner by the BJP for years amid a court battle, is being brought back by the party with an eye on the 2019 national election.

The BJP hopes to replicate its unprecedented feat in the last election of winning 71 of the state's 80 parliament seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a second term in 2019 and UP will be crucial.

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