Ram Temple issue to take backseat, UP BJP chief says development main poll plank

Mathura: "Lord Ram is in our soul" but UP Assembly elections will be fought on the issue of development and corruption, the newly elected state BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya said today, giving a call for an "SP-BSP free" Uttar Pradesh.

"We worship Lord Ram and he is in our soul, however, the party would contest the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha election in UP on the point of development and elimination of corruption and casteism along with family rule," Maurya told reporters while replying to question on Ram temple issue.

Addressing party workers, he attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government and asserted that people will again put their faith in BJP as they did in 2014 general election when the party and its allies won 71 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats.

"People are fed up of prevailing casteism, family rule, corruption in the state and deteriorating law and order situation," he said.

"Akhilesh government has miserably failed. It could not do even ten percent what was expected of it. The law and order situation in UP is horrible," he said, adding, the party would cross 265-seat mark given by the party President.

Maurya, however, evaded queries on who would be the party's Chief Ministerial candidate.

"The decision about Chief Ministerial candidate, if any, would be taken by party leadership and not by me. Party workers will unitedly contest the election of achieving the goal," he added.

Claiming BJP to be the only democratic party in the state, he said, "2014 was contested for Congress-free India while UP election would be contested for SP-BSP free state."

He advised workers to take the different schemes of the current government to people and ensure that the benefits reach them.

"Prime Minister Modi has done in two years what Congress could not do in 60 years," he claimed.

Lauding the Prime Minister for celebrating 125th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, Maurya said, "Congress had neglected him for 60 years while his contribution cannot be overlooked since he does not belong to a particular caste."