Taking Ram temple credit couldn't help BJP win Ayodhya; voters wanted development instead

The BJP slogan 'Jo Ram ko laaye hain, hum unko laayenge' (We will support those who brought Ram to Ayodhya), though catchy, failed to resonate in the very city where the temple was built. The BJP's shocking loss on the Ayodhya seat underscores a fundamental principle: Development must take precedence over religious agenda. Coming just months after the grand consecration, the BJP's defeat underscores the nuanced dynamics between religious fervour and tangible progress. Ayodhya holds profound significance in the cultural and religious ethos of India. The temple was a promise long-awaited, one that the BJP fervently championed. However, it could not harvest the political spoils and its nominee from Faizabad – which includes Ayodhya — Lallu Singh was defeated by Samajwadi Party’s Awadhesh Prasad by 54,567 votes. Ostensibly, apart from the Dalit vote favouring the INDIA bloc, the pressing issues of development and unemployment trumped religion. The loss has ignited a discourse questioning the efficacy of prioritising religious symbolism over pragmatic development initiatives. It also underscores the evolving priorities of the electorate. While religious sentiments undoubtedly hold sway, voters increasingly demand from their leaders tangible improvements in the quality of life, infrastructure and economic prospects. The discrepancy between the monumental religious symbolism and on-the-ground developmental realities became starkly evident during the elections.

We Indians are without a doubt God-fearing, but we are logical and rational as well. In Ayodhya, the grandeur of the new temple failed to resonate with the local populace, which was hurt and disappointed in the aftermath of demolished homes and ruined businesses, and inadequate compensation. The disconnect between the monumental temple inauguration and the pressing concerns of Ayodhya's residents highlights the need for a more balanced approach to governance. In Ayodhya, as in any other region, the electorate seeks more than symbolic gestures; they yearn for substantive change that enhances their livelihood and fosters inclusive growth. The BJP's loss in Ayodhya serves as a caution to political parties across the spectrum: While symbolism may evoke transient fervour, only concrete progress resonates with voters in the long run. The BJP's Ayodhya setback should serve as a wake-up call for all political stakeholders. Furthermore, the Ayodhya episode underscores the crying need for secular governance in a diverse and pluralistic democracy like India. While respecting religious sentiments, the State must maintain a principled stance of impartiality, ensuring that policies and initiatives benefit all citizens irrespective of their faith or belief system. Let us not forget the Constitution drafters wanted that the State must keep its hands off religious matters and, though added later, ‘secularism’ is still there in the Preamble. Invoking Gods in campaigns is not a done thing. Let Ram remain apolitical, in the name of Ram. Please.