NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar remarked on Tuesday that the people of Ayodhya have demonstrated a shift away from the “politics of temple” by defeating the BJP’s candidate in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing a traders’ meet in Baramati, Sharad Pawar highlighted the BJP’s reduced seat count, dropping from over 300 seats five years ago to 240 this time, falling short of a majority.
Sharad Pawar emphasized the significance of Uttar Pradesh in this reduction, noting a different verdict from the electorate. He anticipated the Ram temple would dominate the election agenda, but voters displayed wisdom in response to the BJP’s campaign strategy.
The veteran politician interpreted the BJP’s defeat as a consequence of voters’ rejection of attempts to garner votes in the name of the temple, suggesting a shift in public sentiment.
In a notable upset, Samajwadi Party candidate Awadhesh Prasad defeated sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh in the Faizabad parliamentary constituency, where the temple town of Ayodhya is located.
Sharad Pawar, a key member of the INDIA bloc, expressed apprehensions about the temple’s politicization in elections but commended the electorate’s response in Ayodhya.
He underscored the resilience of democracy in India, attributing it to the collective conscience of the people rather than political maneuvers.
Sharad Pawar critiqued the BJP’s reliance on allies like Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) and Nitish Kumar (JDU) to form the government, highlighting the necessity of cooperation in governance.
Taking a swipe at PM Modi, Sharad Pawar referenced the PM’s earlier remarks dubbing him a “wandering soul,” asserting his enduring presence in politics.
In Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar-led NCP secured 8 out of 10 Lok Sabha constituencies contested, recording a high strike rate in the state.
