The Politics Of Ayodhya: Where The Holy Land Stands In BJP’s Election Campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited Ayodhya where he inaugurated the new Maharshi Valmiki Airport and the revamped railway station. He also held a roadshow from the airport to the station and flagged off the 'Amrit Bharat Express,' hailed as the "sleeper edition of the Vande Bharat trains."

Modi’s big visit comes almost like a prequel, ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir on January 22. Close to 7000 guests have been invited including big names like Baba Ramdev, Amitabh Bacchan, Akshay Kumar, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Addressing a rally at Ayodhya today, Modi said the whole world was waiting for the historic moment of the Ram temple consecration next month.

Ayodhya has been an epicentre of political and electoral discourse following the Ram Mandir and the Babri Masjid controversy in 1992. The history of Ayodhya is marred by the Babri Masjid's demolition on December 6, 1992, by a right-wing Hindu mob, resulting in nationwide religious riots across the country killing over 2,000 people, predominantly Muslims. The Supreme Court's unanimous verdict on November 9, 2019, declared the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict incorrect and ruled in favour of the Hindu side, allocating the disputed land for a temple dedicated to Lord Ram. 

This verdict was perceived as a significant triumph for Modi and the BJP, bolstering their support among the majority Hindu population. In August 2020, Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram Mandir, a move criticised by some as a departure from India's secular identity, reinforcing a Hindu nationalist narrative.

The Ram Mandir, a longstanding electoral agenda for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has finally materialised after years of legal battles. This significant win for BJP is expected to strengthen its position in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The timing of the inauguration suggests a strategic effort by the ruling party to broadcast the temple's symbol and message nationwide. The BJP expects to gain by resolving religious conflicts, boosting Modi's political stature, and encouraging voting based on Hindu pride in the upcoming general elections.

Outlook analyses the politics of Ayodhya as the monumental election season nears and assesses where the holy land stands in their electoral landscape.