The Bhartiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh is moving from “Ram” to “Ram Rajya”.
The BJP Maha-Sangram rally in Faizabad on Tuesday saw the party leaders return to Ram with a vengeance.
For a dash of novelty to the weather-beaten temple issue, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said, “Along with Ram, we will now work for establishment of Ram Rajya which is s
ynonymous with good governance. The Congress thrives in Sonia-Raj, BSP in Maya-Raj and Samajwadi Party in Mulayam-Raj. But the BJP will work for Ram Rajya.”
The BJP, apparently, has realised that the party cannot hope to survive — at least, in UP — without Ram. However, party managers are also aware of the fact that the BJP has lost some of its credibility on the issue and, therefore, needs some add-ons.
“Ram has always been an issue close to our heart but now we are striving for Ram Rajya because bad governance has ruined UP. Our stand on the temple issue has been vindicated by the court and we need to move further on. Ram Rajya will be our poll plank and we are not raising religious passions with this because the concept of Ram Rajya is perceived as good governance where the poorest of the poor is taken care of,” said a senior BJP leader while talking on phone from Delhi.
It is clear that the BJP will make a concerted bid to cash in on the poor governance in UP and Ram — linked to Ram Rajya — will make the campaign even more attractive.
While underlining the concept of Ram Rajya at the rally, Mr Gadkari cited the example of Gujarat and said that the agricultural growth rate in Gujarat was 14 per cent whereas in UP it was 2.5 per cent.