In Ayodhya not everything on `Ram ke naam’ ; caste also matters

The locals vouch that after consecration of Lord Ram, Ayodhya is a transformed city.

The grand inauguration of the Ram Mandir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22 this year has elevated Ayodhya to international prominence. However, the electoral dynamics in the Lok Sabha constituency extend beyond temple politics, deeply entwined with intricate caste equations.

This high-profile seat, still known by the name of Faizabad, features an intriguing contest among the BJP’s Thakur candidate Lallu Singh, SP’s (INDIA bloc) Dalit candidate and sitting MLA Awadhesh Prasad, and BSP’s Brahmin candidate Sachhidanand Pandey.

Pandey was in the BJP and switched sides before the elections with an eye on the Brahmin vote bank.

“Ayodhya is synonym with Lord Ram. But when it comes to elections Ram naam is not enough. The jaati of the candidates also matters,” Rajesh N Bajpyee a political analyst said.

He noted that outsiders might perceive Ayodhya as a BJP stronghold due to its long-standing advocacy for the Ram Temple's construction. "The reality is that elections in Ayodhya are not an easy win for the BJP. Since 1989, when the Mandal and Kamandal issues clashed and the Ram Mandir issue gained prominence, there have been eight Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has won only four of them. Lallu Singh and Vinay Katiyar each won twice. Mitrasen Yadav won three times—twice on an SP ticket and once as a CPI candidate. The SP also won the seat in 2009," Bajpayee explained.

The locals vouch that after the consecration of Lord Ram,  Ayodhya is a transformed city. It is bustling with traffic jams, the gullies are choc-a-bloc with pilgrims drawn from across the country and once a tran tranquil 13 km road connecting Ayodhya with erstwhile Faizabad, has been re-christened as Ram Path and has become the Cannaught place of Ayodhya.

“This Ram Path has become the city’s lifeline with prominent eateries, big merchandise shops, and business centre points that have come up here. The earlier quaint-looking shops selling memorabilia have transformed into post shops adorned with models of Ram Temple, saffron flags and other Hindu souvenirs,” said B P Singh, a local resident of Ayodhya.

Despite the prominence of saffron politics, caste dynamics are crucial in the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which votes on May 20 in the fifth phase. Prime Minister Modi underscored the BJP’s focus on this constituency with a roadshow on May 5, supporting Lallu Singh's bid for a third consecutive term.

Dalits make up 26% of the constituency’s population, mainly from the Rawat, Chamar, and Kori communities. SP candidate Awadhesh Prasad, a seasoned politician and the party’s Dalit face, is contesting from here. Prasad, the SP MLA from the Milkipur assembly constituency, has had a long political career since his first assembly win in 1977.

After losing the 2017 assembly election, Prasad reclaimed the Milkipur seat in 2022. Meanwhile, former BJP leader Sachhidanand Pandey is the BSP’s candidate, representing Brahmin interests.

The contest is likely to be interesting because not ever. “The upper caste predominantly support the BJP, while Dalits and Muslims are likely to back the INDIA bloc candidate,” said Kamlesh Srivastava, a local journalist.

Veteran BJP leader Lallu Singh is relying on a unified Hindu vote to secure his seat. Singh’s campaign, led by Kamla Kant, is based out of the party’s office on Ram Path. Despite his strong local connections and presence at community events, Singh is actively canvassing to retain his position.

The caste composition of the Faizabad constituency includes 26% Dalits (Rawat, Chamar, Kori), 14% Muslims, 12% Kurmi, 12% Yadav, 12% Brahmin, 6% Rajput, 4% Vaish, 5% Kewat/Mallah/Nishad, and 12% other OBCs. This diverse demographic will play a critical role in the upcoming election.

As Ayodhya continues to evolve, the intersection of religious significance and electoral politics makes the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat a focal point in the 2024 elections.