As the date for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 is drawing near, the political environment in the most populous state of India-Uttar Pradesh-is charging up. The main dominant players (political parties) in the state seem to have chosen their Gods!
With Lord Rama reserved for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress seems to have chosen Lord Shiva and Samajwadi Party, Lord Vishnu, to boost their electoral fortunes.
In the latest development from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, on September 24, Congress president Rahul Gandhi was greeted in his Lok Sabha constituency by hundreds of ‘bol bam’-chanting party workers. They were all dressed up as “Kanwariyas” (the devotees of Lord Shiva).
The Congress chief was also presented a portrait of Lord Shiva and a video footage of the same went viral on social media. Gandhi’s forehead clearly seemed smeared with sandalwood paste with a prominent red ’tilak’ in the centre.
It may be recalled that he recently came back from his Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, the abode of Lord Shiva. It was a 12-day pilgrimage.
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In August, UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said he was hopeful that if the need arose and there was no way out, the Centre could opt for the legislative route in Parliament (for the construction of a Ram temple), when it has adequate numbers in both Houses.
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“When such a need arises that there is no way out except bringing a Bill, I am fully confident that in such a situation and when we have adequate strength (in both Houses of Parliament), remember these two things”, he said without elaborating.
“At present, in Parliament, we do not have adequate strength. Because even if we bring the matter in Lok Sabha, our strength in the Rajya Sabha is less, and it will definitely be defeated. Every devotee of Lord Ram knows this. The court will soon give its judgement. The day we have the strength, it will be constructively used and not misused (Lekin Jis din hamare paas takat hogaa, uss takat ka sadpuyog hoga, durpayog nahi hoga),” Maurya told PTI.
After Maurya’s comment, former CM of the state and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has come up with a temple of his own.
Junior Yadav announced that a splendid city named after Lord Vishnu will be developed in the state (Uttar Pradesh) if his party comes to power and added, the city will have a huge temple inspired by Cambodia’s artistic Angkor Wat–the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 401 acres.
As per his plan (which obviously depends on the result of LS polls 2019), he will develop a city in the name of Lord Vishnu on over 2,000 acres of land near Etawah and it will have a grand Vishnu temple which will be a copy of famous Angkor Wat temple!
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Uttar Pradesh sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha (LS). In the 2014 general elections, the BJP won 71 seats, its ally Apna Dal got two. However, the SP got five seats and the Congress only two.
Given the number of MPs it sends in the LS, the state gains tremendous importance as it has the power to decide the political outcome.
Our placid Gods are calm and serene, let’s see which party will get the maximum blessings.
About the author: Author is Deputy Editor in India TV and tweets at@AnuragSason
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs and views of India TV.
Anurag Sason 
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