Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached Lucknow airport. His visit is being seen as an important step by the Shinde camp to lay claim to the Hindutva agenda in the ongoing tussle to claim the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray. (Twitter/@miknathshinde)
CM Eknath Shinde will be accompanied by Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and several other ministers of Maharashtra government in Ayodhya today. Thousands of party workers, mainly from Thane and Mumbai, have already reached Ayodhya
In his first significant visit to Ayodhya, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with his MLAs will perform a massive show of strength today, and offer prayers at the Ram temple and perform Sharayu Aarti in the evening. He will be accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and several other ministers of the Maharashtra government.
Posters and hoardings have been put up at many places from Lucknow airport to Ayodhya. The poster depicts Shinde against a backdrop of the Ram temple, some of which also include the faces of his son Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena leaders Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Are. Yogi Adityanath and BJP President JP Nadda.
“It is an important day and an important step for us. Last time we came here when we were part of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi. We were sad because we had a feeling that we forgot Hindutva by sitting with Congress and NCP But now we are very happy. Balasaheb Thackeray had said that if he ever had to sit with the Congress, he would close Shiv Sena’s shop. Today, we are carrying forward Balasaheb Thackeray’s thoughts,” Shiv Sena leader and Thane Former Mayor of Municipal Corporation Naresh Mhaske said.
This is being seen as a significant step by the Shinde camp to stake claim to the Hindutva agenda in the ongoing tussle to claim Thackeray’s legacy. The Ram temple has remained one of the major issues for the Shiv Sena for decades.
Thousands of party workers, mainly from Thane and Mumbai, have already reached Ayodhya by train.
“We are rallying behind Eknath Shinde with all our might. Not only do we have a mass base in Maharashtra, but many people are supporting us in Uttar Pradesh as well. The Uttar Pradesh government itself has given full cooperation. Our party workers in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have played a key role in organizing this show of strength,” said Purvesh Sarnaik of the Yuva Sena (of the Eknath Shinde group).
Shinde will reach Ram Setu Park at 10.45 am and will walk from there to Ram temple. After reaching the temple at 12 noon, will visit the temple till 1 pm. Then he will go to Lord Rishabh Dev Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. He will visit Hanuman Garhi at 2 pm. After this, he will hold a press conference at 2.30 pm. He will go to Laxman Fort at 3.30 pm to seek the blessings of all the saints. He will perform Sharayu Aarti at 6 pm. After this he will have dinner with CM Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow and then leave for Mumbai.
Fadnavis will accompany Shinde for darshan in the morning.
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