In the ancient city of Ayodhya, a wave of excitement swept through the air as the first golden gate, Swarna Dwar, of the magnificent Ram Janmasthan Temple stood proudly in its place. The entire town buzzed with activity as craftsmen diligently worked to install 13 such golden gates, including the gate of the sanctum sanctorum, within the next three days. The culmination of this grand endeavor was set to be the Pran Prathista, the consecration of the revered Ram idol, scheduled for January 22.

At the helm of the consecration rites was none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, recognizing the monumental occasion, declared January 22 a holiday across all educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh. The town was adorned with a festive spirit, with no liquor, fish, or meat shops allowed to remain open on that day. Yogi termed the celebration “Ramotsav” and personally supervised all arrangements in Ayodhya, ensuring a Swachchata (cleanliness) drive starting January 14.

As the town prepared for the grand ceremony, a cloud of political comments and opinions enveloped the atmosphere, mainly from the opposition bloc parties. The Congress party took a stance of non-participation, citing electoral gain as the motive behind the hasty inauguration of the incomplete temple by BJP and RSS leaders.

Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party, expressed his willingness to visit Ayodhya only “at the call of Bhagwan Ram,” emphasizing his perception of Lord Ram as the advocate for the backward, Dalit, and Adivasi communities. Mamata Banerjee from Kolkata dismissed the ceremony as a political gimmick by the BJP, alleging it to be an election ploy after the Supreme Court verdict.

The opposition bloc found itself in a state of confusion, with leaders grappling over whether to attend the ceremony or criticize the construction of the Ram temple. Some feared losing support from their Muslim vote banks, leading to amusing remarks from their leaders. Others believed that if the Ram temple became the main election issue, the BJP would benefit, questioning the political use of a religious event.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and BJP actively engaged in reaching out to the public, urging them to celebrate the consecration ceremony by lighting lamps. The BJP strategically incorporated the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha event into its nationwide outreach campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

As Ayodhya prepared for the grand event, it became apparent that the series of functions related to Lord Ram would extend beyond January 22. In the months to come, millions of people would flock to Ayodhya for the ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla idol from each state. The BJP’s promise of conducting Ayodhya tours for Ram devotees added another layer to the unfolding political drama.

With the Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, Ayodhya was set to celebrate Ramnavami with pomp and grandeur, causing concerns for the INDIA alliance. The alliance, currently preoccupied with seat-sharing negotiations and the Congress working hard to salvage the coalition, faced the challenge of navigating the dynamic political landscape shaped by the developments surrounding the Ram temple.