Mumbai: With no signs of government formation visible yet, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has postponed his Ayodhya visit, which was originally scheduled on November 24.
As his plans of forming the government with the support of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress have not materialised so far, the Sena chief has been forced to focus even more on government formation.
After the Supreme Court verdict on the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title dispute on November 9, Mr Thackeray had announced that he would visit Ayodhya on November 24. In its judgment, the apex court cleared the decks for construction of a Ram Mandir at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf board for building a mosque. Welcoming the verdict, Mr Thackeray said that he would visit Ayodhya again to seek darshan.
However, the current political imbroglio has forced the Sena chief to postpone his Ayodhya plans, said sources. Even 25 days after declaration of the results of the Vidhan Sabha polls, no party has been able to form the government in the state. Spurned by alliance partner, BJP, over its demand for sharing the chief minister’s post, the Sena has sought assistance from the NCP and Congress for government formation but has failed to get it so far.
“The government formation process in the state has been delayed. Though leaders of the three parties (Sena, NCP and Congress) are holding meetings, no final decision has been taken so far. In view of these developments, Mr Thackeray has decided to postpone his visit to Ayodhya,” a Sena leader said.
He pointed at the “security concerns” in Ayodhya. “Security agencies have already denied permission to political parties planning to visit Ayodhya and the Ram Janmabhoomi site,” he said.
