BJP retains Hindutva nerve centre Ayodhya

LUCKNOW/AYODHYA: The BJP managed to pull off a comprehensive win in Ayodhya, the nerve centre of Hindutva politics, in the much-watched urban local body elections in UP.
BJP candidate Girish Pati Tripathi, the 48 years old Vashishtpeeth of Sri Tewari Mandir in Ayodhya, defeated Samajwadi Party's Ashish Pandey by a margin of around 34,000 votes. This is the second time that the BJP has won from Ayodhya, almost six years after it was turned into a municipal corporation in 2017.
Tripathi termed his win as a step to send out a larger 'vaicharik' (ideological) message not only in UP but across the country. "We would make the entire country 'Rammay'," said an exuberant Tripathi while speaking to TOI. Crediting Yogi Adityanath for his win, Tripathi said BJP would ensure development of Ayodhya to its full potential in the coming days. Yogi had not only addressed a public rally but had also reached out to Ayodhya's local seers and priests who are said to wield significant influence in the temple town.
BJP's win in Ayodhya attained much significance against the backdrop of the construction of a Ram Temple which is expected to be completed early next year. The BJP has been projecting the ambitious religious project as a cornerstone of India's cultural identity, while stoking Hindutva fervour to take on opponents ahead of Lok Sabha elections.