Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya, the second most important temple in the holy city after the makeshift Ram temple. He is also expected to offer prayers at the Ram temple, which is at the disputed Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid site.

The visit is his first in the city after taking charge as chief minister and comes a day after the CBI Court in Lucknow filed conspiracy charges in the Babri Masjid case against senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and union Minister Uma Bharti. The court, in its charge sheet said the three leaders and six others conspired to demolish the 16th century Babri mosque in 1992.

The BJP maintains that the visit a day after the court hearing is simply a coincidence, but speculation is rife on whether the Ram temple is back on the party's agenda.

The CM will also meet party workers in the city.