In an apparent effort to indicate that it has not deviated from its Hindutva path after forming a Government with the Congress and NCP, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday announced that its president and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray would visit Ayodhya after the MVA Government completes 100 days in office.
Announcing the Chief Minister’s impending visit to Ayodhya, Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut tweeted: “Chalo Ayodhya ! CM #UddhavThackeray will visit Ayodhya on the completion of 100 days in power! @OfficeofUT”.
In another tweet, Raut said: “Our government has begun performing its duties in great vigour. We shall complete five years in office. After government completes 100 days. CM Uddhav Thackeray shall go to Ayodhya. After seeking blessings of Lord Ram, will decide on future course of action”.
Uddhav, who had announced after the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayoidhya dispute case that he would go once again Ayodhya on November 24, 2019, had postponed his visit then, owing to the impasse in the government formation in the state. The public perception was that the Sena would soft-peddle its Hindutva agenda as long as it is running the government in the state with the Congress and NCP.
It may be recalled that Uddhav had on November 25, 2018 – along with his wife Rashmi and son Aditya, had visited Ayodhya. On June 16, 2019 year after the Lok Sabha polls, he once again visited Ayodhya and offered prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla shrine.
However, atmosphere has changed after he joined hands with the “secular” and NCP to form a Maha Vikas Agadhi government in Maharashtra. The perception that has been gaining ground in the state political circles that in order to ensure that there is no threat to its government in the state the ruling Shiv Sena is pursuing the Hindutva as vigorously as it was doing earlier. So much so that its erstwhile ally BJP has been taking pot shots at the Shiv Sena for giving up on its Hindutva agenda for the sake of power.
Interestingly enough, Raut came out with a tweet a day ahead of the first grand convention of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). It is speculated that at the convention, MNS chief Raj Thackeray embrace the Hindutva path and change the colour of his party flag.
Raj had recently met former Maharashtra chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, sparking speculation about the possibility of the MNS joining hands with the Amit Shah-led party.
Meanwhile, talking to media persons, Raut extended invitation to Congress’ former president Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar to accompany Uddhav Thackeray to Ayodhya. “We want that our alliance leaders should also come along. Rahul Gandhi also visits severaltemples”.
On her part, BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi had earlier in the day wanted to know if Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wouldl also take Congress leaders along with him to Ayodhya. How the alliance partners of the Sena react? How will he show his face to them – to the ones who questioned the very existence of Lord Ram, even went to the Supreme Court stating the same,”she said.
Uttar Pradesh’s deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma described Uddhav’s impending visit to Ayodhya as a “political stunt”.