Is VHP yatra in Ayodhya aimed at Lok Sabha elections 2014?

New Delhi: Vishwa Hindu Parishad's decision to launch the 84-kos parikrama yatra from August 25 and the subsequent denial of permission by the ruling Akhilesh government has once again converted Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Rama into a political battlefield. Normally the VHP takes out this yatra in April-May every year but this time they have decided to start this yatra in August. Since VHP is a member of what is generally referred to as ‘Sangh Parivar', a conglomerate of RSS led organizations, and the change of timing has raised eyebrows in political circles. The political opponents of BJP believe that the change of date is deliberate and is aimed at stoking religious sentiments in order to communally polarize the electorate in the run up to general elections 2014. The Congress and BSP have openly charged the VHP of vitiating the atmosphere so that its sister organization BJP could reap political dividends in the General Elections 2014. But what is most interesting is the posture of the ruling SP government led by Akhilesh Yadav. On August 17, a team of VHP representatives that included fiery Ashok Singhal as well met the father-son duo of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav. The VHP demanded permission for taking out this yatra. Not only this, they also requested Mulayam Singh to persuade the Muslim leadership to give up their claims on Ramjanmabhoomi. The VHP leaders said that Mulayam can do it efficiently because the Muslim community trusts him more than any other political leader. The VHP leaders gave signals that the state government had no objection to the 84-kosi parikrama yatra. In fact, some of them even hailed Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav for their nod. This was something that nobody had expected given the bitterness that existed between VHP and Mulayam Singh Yadav. Questions are being raised over the intent of Mulayam Singh Yadav. And it's not for nothing. In fact, from purely political perspective, any type of communal polarization between Hindus and Muslims will benefit two parties – BJP and SP. The BJP produced best electoral results in the state riding on the Ayodhya wave in 1990s. Once the Ayodhya issue lost momentum, the party's winning spree also lost its momentum. Now that Narendra Modi has taken over as the campaign committee chairman of BJP, the stakes are very high for the party in UP. Modi knows that if he has to enter 7, Race Course Road then his party has to produce spectacular results in UP that accounts for 80 Lok Sabha seats. That UP is very high on Modi's priority list became very clear when he got his trusted lieutenant Amit Shah appointed as state in-charge of BJP. So in one sense, the entire electoral strategy for the BJP in UP will be carfted by Modi himself. And for Modi, what could be a better option than somehow generate the same momentum of 1990s around the same Ayodhya movement? The dampener for SP was the reaction of its Muslim face Azam Khan who expressed his displeasure over the father-son duo's meeting with VHP leaders publicly by issuing a press release. Azam Khan's displeasure had cost SP dearly in the past. Therefore, the state govt decided to deny the permission for this yatra, the very next day of Azam Khan's statement. But why was Mulayam Singh playing footsie with BJP on this sensitive issue? The reason is not very difficult to decipher. Mulayam knows that in the coming Lok Sabha elections he will face stiff anti-incumbency challenge from both Congress and BSP for Muslim votes. In state elections, SP still remains the first priority for Muslims , but in Lok Sabha elections the equation can change dramatically because this time its Modi who is seen as knocking at the doors of 7, Race Course Road and at the national level it's Congress, and not SP, that can put the brakes on the BJP juggernaut . Mulayam Singh knows it very well and that's why political observers are of the opinion that Mulayam should have been the happiest person had this yatra taken place. This yatra would have given Mulayam Singh an opportunity to tell Muslims that the dangers of BJP and communal riots are still looming large over their heads and that it's the SP only which can take a tough stand against Sangh parivar outfits the way it did in 1990s.Now the biggest question is - Has Ayodhya once again become a political football that will be used for purely electoral benefits through political machinations? And are SP and BJP planning to milk it as much as possible? Both these parties should know that playing with people's emotions and religious sentiments can prove to be counter-productive and the nation may have to pay a heavy price for their follies. Instead of using this emotive issue as a tool for winning elections, will it not be better if the two parties, one championing the cause of Muslims so much so that its leader did not mind being called ‘Maulana Mulayam' and the other claiming to introduce ‘Ram Rajya' , create an atmosphere for an amicable settlement of this dispute? If they do not learn from their mistakes, history will never forgive them. You just can't use religious sentiments for winning electoral battles.