What is BJP's agenda for 2014 elections? Ram temple or governance

As UPA is busy finalizing agendas, strategies ,alliances and campaign styles for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections  BJP  is back  with the agenda of Ram temple in Ayodhya .

There is a saying that perfectly suits BJP " The more you change the more you are the same ." Modi started with governance agenda  and slowly it  drifted  towards Hindutva  agenda ie  the core issue " Construction of Ram temple  in Ayodhya ."

Construction of Ram Temple is ok but one should not include in political agenda . Agendas for political parties in elections should be somewhat similar to what type of  development strategies you want to bring , economic strategies , foreign policies etc.It may sound awkward  but Why not change the type of issues for elections.

If there were talks that Modi is going to be a game changer than  BJP should  bring  the substantial  change  which should come as shock for the Congress and other parties  who were opposing you. 

A positive environment  for elections is necessary  that includes policies to  enhance the image of a nation  and not to divide on vote bank politics. 

In its pre-poll exercise the BJP has brought the Ram temple back on political centrestage with party leader Amit Shah saying that he had prayed for the construction of a temple and ouster of the Congress at the Centre.

His comments were aimed at polarising votes in Uttar Pradesh  and the state may see  a good battle of political parties for votes.

It is evident from Amit Shah style of campaigning  that the BJP has a complex game plan for UP ie to win the polarised Hindu votes  by making Hindutva  a major plank  as caste calculus  is imperative for capturing the power at the center in 2014 elections.  

However , there are reports BJP's mascot, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, might contest Lok Sabha election from Varanasi to improve the party's prospects.

But BJP  should choose agendas carefully if it  has to gather maximum votes in 2014 as an NDA .

Indian politicians  and  political parties should not ask votes on  caste calculations  but rather focus on policies strategies  that benefits country economically  and socially.India being the oldest democracy it should set an example  for the other countries.

For instance the  split in the Muslim vote along with other caste alliances, helped Nitish Kumar become the Chief Minister of Bihar in November 2005.These type of formulas should be avoided.  

Meanwhile ,Amit Shah's comments invited a sharp rebuke from political parties Saturday even as party chief Rajnath Singh defended him saying he had just expressed his wish.

Congress as well as all anti-BJP leaders have unequivocally criticised him and the BJP for raking up the Ayodhya issue.

Visiting Ayodhya, Shah, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary and in charge of Uttar Pradesh, said that he hoped a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram will be built there soon, signalling the direction the party's campaign will take in the 2014 polls.

"I came here to pray to Ram Lalla. I wish we will soon build a grand temple for Lord Ram here," Shah told reporters.

His comment drew strong reactions from the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, Left parties and BJP's former ally Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

Senior Congress leader and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the BJP leader was fooling the people.

"They have raised the issue many times.. Why didn't they do anything when they were in power? The issue is in the Supreme Court and they are not presenting on full facts to the people," he said.

"The BJP's nature is that of Ravan. If it frees itself of this, it will be able to see Lord Ram," Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari said, claiming that the BJP "always remembers Lord Ram a year ahead of the polls and forgets him later."

The Samajwadi Party warned against "outsiders" trying to spoil the communal peace in Uttar Pradesh, where it is in power.

"There is an urgent need to keep a close eye on those who have come from outside to spoil communal brotherhood in the state before the Lok Sabha elections " SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said.

JD-U chief Sharad Yadav said when his party was a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), they were clear that the Ayodhya temple issue can be resolved only after the courts give a verdict or through talks between both the communities.

Communist Party of India leader D. Raja said BJP is "reviving" its Hindutva ideology and politics. "It is open now that RSS is dictating policies to the BJP. It is very clear. BJP is bound to revive its Hindutva politics," he said.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh however defended Shah."What I got to know is that he said he wished a grand Ram temple is built. I would say, any Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, every religious person wants their religious structures to be grand," Rajnath Singh told reporters in Nagpur, after meeting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat.

"To express this wish is not wrong. Won't a Muslim want a grand mosque?" he told reporters.He denied the party going back to it's "Hindutva agenda".

"What is Hindutva.. Supreme Court has defined it. It is not a religion, its a way of life," he said.