Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray plans to visit Ayodhya, MVA allies say it's okay

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray plans to visit Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on the competition of 100 days of being in power. 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut took to Twitter to inform that Uddhav Thackeray will be visiting Ayodhya, after the completion of 100 days in power, to seek blessings.

Chalo Ayodhya!” Sanjay Raut tweeted on Wednesday. 

Raut further said that Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya on the competition of 100 days in power and to seek the blessings of Lord Ram. 

The government is working hard and will complete five years with the blessings of Lord Ram,” Raut stated. 

This came ahead of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) Maha Adhiveshan, which was held on January 23, on the occasion of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s birth anniversary. 

It is being speculated that Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya may cause uneasiness among the alliance partners of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state. 

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the temple visit should not be for public display but to seek blessings. Lord Ram is a symbol of love and sacrifice and seeking his blessing will wipe out hatred, Sawant added. 

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik said that they have not imposed restrictions on their members to practice religion. “Our party has never mixed religion with politics,” Malik added. 

Congress’ top leadership had earlier expressed its intention for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Even before the Supreme Court’s verdict on the issue, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had also expressed his desire to have a Ram Mandir in the year 1989. 

Therefore, CM Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya will not cause tension between Shiv Sena and Congress’ relations. Sawant stated that an individual decides to visit the temple. 

Earlier, Thackeray had put off his visit to Ayodhya scheduled on November 24, 2019. 

This happened after it was decided that Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will form an alternative government with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. 

Thackeray took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister on November 28, 2019. 

The Shiv Sena chief had visited Ayodhya in June 2019 and offered prayers at the Ram temple site along with 18 newly elected MPs of his party.