After Ram Lalla darshan, Modi’s poll “rath” rolls in Ayodhya
Hindustan TimesAfter Ram Lalla darshan, Modi’s poll “rath” rolls in Ayodhya Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the road show in Ayodhya HT Correspondent [email protected] Lucknow: Amid the blowing of conch shells, a shower of flower petals and vociferous “Jai Shri Ram” chants that intermingled with “Modi-Modi” and “Modi-Yogi” slogans, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first poll-time road show in Ayodhya on Sunday evening after offering prayers at the Ram temple in his first visit to the pilgrim city since the January 22 Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla. Bharatiya Janata Party leaders said Modi’s Ayodhya road show would have a favourable impact on each of these 10 seats in Uttar Pradesh, including Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Bareilly and Aonla, and even beyond for the remaining phases of the seven-phase polls. This was Modi’s third Ayodhya visit in four months since December-end and party leaders appeared elated by the response to his road show that would also refresh the January inauguration of Ram temple in the public mind and put the focus on the BJP’s oft-repeated charge of mainstream Opposition leaders skipping the inauguration invite due to “vote bank” considerations. Several Ayodhya saints like Mahant Raju Das and Mahant Dharam Das were seen seated among the crowd for the road show even as many others kept blowing conch shells with chants of Jai Shri Ram.