Sanjay Raut says allies can join Uddhav for Ayodhya visit

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has put the party’s allies into a quandary by saying that they too are welcome to join chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in his visit to Ayodhya in March to mark the completion of 100 days in power.

The Rajya Sabha MP Wednesday announced that the CM will soon be visiting Ayodhya and that he has invited the ruling alliance partners – NCP and Congress – to join him in the visit. “Offering prayers to Lord Ram has nothing to do with the common minimum programme decided by the three parties while forming the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government,” Mr Raut said.

The Sena, Congress and NCP – ideologically different parties – had agreed on a common minimum programme on the basis of which they came together to form the government. “Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya on the completion of 100 days in power to seek the blessings of Lord Ram. We want that our alliance leaders should also come along. Rahul Gandhi also visits several temples,” Mr Raut said.

“The government has started working with full force and it will definitely complete five years. This is all due to the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram. After completion of 100 days of government, the CM will visit Ayodhya and chart out the future course of action after seeking Lord Ram’s blessings,” he tweeted.

Mr Thackeray had put off his November visit to Ayodhya, after the NCP core committee resolved to form an alternative government in the state. The Sena subsequently joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form a coalition government.

Mr Thackeray was sworn in as the CM on November 28, 2019. Mr Thackeray last visited Ayodhya in June 2019 and offered prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla temple along with 18 newly-elected MPs of his party.