UP polls: BJP going strong in Ayodhya

Ayodhya, May 2: The mere mention of the twin towns of Ayodhya and Faizabad makes one think of the movement of Ram temple construction which dominated the political scene in Uttar Pradesh for about two decades.

But the rhetoric is gone and people have come face to face with the hard realities.

The Ram temple has hardly been an issue in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls even as the other basic issues are likely to hog the limelight when the Ayodhya assembly constituency goes to poll on May 8, the last of the seven phase UP elections.

The constituency is still a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has retained the seat since 1991 during the peak of Ayodhya agitation. In fact, BJP legislator Lalloo Singh is seeking his fifth term in a row from the Ayodhya assembly constituency.

Mr Lalloo Singh, is facing fresh challenge from unusual quarters.

But an unperturbed Mr Singh says ''Wahi janta mujhe paanchvi baar bhi jitaegi jisne chaar baar jitaya hai (the same electorate would see me home the fifth time as well).'' The challenge to him is from Mr Beni Prasad Verma, once a close confidante of chief minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mr Verma has floated his own party-- Samajwadi Kranti Dal-- and is contesting from here with the support of Congress.

BJP is unfazed and the people of the religious town are neutral.

They, in fact, are amazed at the turn of events and see no logic in Mr Beni contesting from here. The former Union Minister and the SP MP from Kaiserganj (SC) is trying to establish his secular credentials being a long serving SP leader and now contesting with the support of Congress.

Mr Beni Prasad is one of the six Independents in fray, with Mr Ashok Kumar Tiwari of BSP and Mr Gur Charan Yadav of Rashtriya Lok Dal being the other main candidates in the contest. BSP president Mayawati, who is playing the Brahmin card in the state polls, has also given ticket to the Brahmin candidate but it is highly unlikely that the ploy would be a success in this constituency.

The passion of Ram temple may be missing from the atmosphere and the issue of development is the talk of the town. But people's underlying supprt to BJP seems unflinching. The BJP also does not miss an opportunity of taking them on an emotional ride every time the polls are announced.

As a matter of fact, the BJP's projected chief ministerial candidate in UP assembly Kalyan Singh commands a bigger following among the Hindus than any other leader in the BJP. This could be the reason for Mr Kalyan Singh launching his election campaign from here.

Karsewakpuram, the place which was busy with activities during the Karsewa days, is an upbeat with mahants and saints looking forward to the BJP's return to power for construction of Ram temple.

However, the business community and general electorate are least bothered about the temple issue. ''We have had enough of it. The time has come to think in terms of developmental activities,'' Rajendra a general merchandise near the Hanuman Garhi said.

Mr Beni Prasad Verma , who is campaigning hard in the constituency is not really able to provide tough challenge to the BJP which had polled about 38 per cent of total votes in 2002 as compared to just about six per cent the Congress candidate had got.

UNI