Prime Minister Narendra Modi, commencing his electoral campaign in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening, arrived in Ayodhya on Sunday to advance his canvassing efforts. He orchestrated an extensive procession in the sacred city, joined by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi engaged in devotions and conducted rituals at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Following an audience with Ram Lalla, who was ceremoniously enthroned in His dwelling in his presence, PM Modi orchestrated a nearly 2-kilometer-long procession in Ayodhya. He continuously brandished the Lotus emblem to the throngs assembled, extending greetings along the thoroughfare.
PM Modi’s procession along the ‘Ram Path’ was charted from Sugriva Fort to Lata Chowk. The trajectory of the procession has been segmented into 40 units. The affair is anticipated to showcase individuals of Sindhi and Punjabi descent, as well as farmers and women adorned in their traditional attire. Sunday’s excursion to Ayodhya marks his inaugural visit since the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla in His native abode on January 22 of this year.
Anticipating PM Modi’s arrival, Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Temple, stated, “Elaborate arrangements are underway in anticipation of Prime Minister Modi’s pilgrimage to Ayodhya for an audience with Ram Lalla and a procession. Ram Lalla Darshan Marg Gate no 11 has been bedecked with floral arrangements. Monumental placards of the PM have been erected along the thoroughfare. The procession is slated to traverse a 2-km stretch from Birla Mandir to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk. Platforms have been erected at various intervals along this stretch as part of the grand welcome extended to the PM. Ram Lalla Darshan Marg has also been embellished.”
“This constitutes his (PM Modi’s) premiere visit to Ayodhya subsequent to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’. Subsequently, he will pay homage at the inner sanctum and subsequently lead a procession to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk. The ascetics and custodians of Ayodhya will accompany him during the procession,” he appended. Elaborate arrangements are in progress to accord a grand reception to Prime Minister Modi upon his arrival in Ayodhya. Security measures have been bolstered as the sacred city has been witnessing a significant influx of devotees since the early hours of Sunday, preceding his arrival.
An adherent of Lord Ram, Yashwant Singh, conveyed to ANI, “The legacy that PM Modi has bequeathed to this nation will endure for generations. We beseech that PM Modi secures a third term and attains the objective of ‘ab ki baar 400 paar’ (exceeding 400 seats this time).” Addressing the security arrangements in the sanctified city, Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Raj Karan Nayyar divulged that the locale has been demarcated into zones, sectors, and sub-sectors ahead of PM Modi’s arrival.
“In accordance with directives from higher authorities, we have partitioned the locale into zones, sectors, and sub-sectors. We have briefed our personnel regarding the security protocols to be observed and designated their duty stations to ensure they comprehend their obligations at their designated security posts,” Nayyar relayed to ANI on Saturday evening.
The entrance gates of the temple and the ingress routes have all been festooned with floral adornments and flags in anticipation of Prime Minister Modi’s visit. Alongside the police force, the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and commando units are overseeing all preparations. Security measures at the airport have been augmented as well.
Ayodhya is slated to cast votes in the fifth phase on May 20. The Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases until June 1, with the vote count for all constituencies scheduled for June 4. Polling in Uttar Pradesh, which dispatches the largest contingent to the Lower House, comprising 80 seats, is being conducted across all seven phases of the parliamentary elections. Voting in 16 constituencies was concluded in the initial two phases.
In the 2019 general elections, the BJP claimed a significant portion of the electoral spoils, securing 62 out of 80 seats in the state, with an additional 2 secured by coalition partner Apna Dal (S). Mayawati’s BSP managed to clinch 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav’s SP had to settle for a mere five. The Congress was relegated to a solitary seat.
