NEW DELHI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Udhav Thackeray, the president of right-wing political party Shiv Sena in India's south-western state Maharashtra, on Sunday said that the country's main ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not be able to return to power in next year's general elections if it failed to fulfill its commitment of building the "Rama Temple" in Ayodhya, a town in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Shiv Sena is one of the ruling parties in Maharashtra along with the BJP, and a long standing constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP at the Centre.
Over 200,000 Hindu saints and supporters have reportedly congregated in Ayodhya on Sunday for a "Dharam Sansad" (Religious Parliament) to give a call, and also put pressure on the central government to build the "Rama Temple" in Ayodhya, the birth place of Hindus' "Lord Rama".
In the wake of huge gathering, elaborate security arrangements have been made in the town to avoid any untoward incidents.
Addressing media persons in Ayodhya after visiting the disputed site where "Rama Temple" is demanded to be built, Thackeray recalled that BJP had promised to look into all possibilities of constructing the temple.
"BJP will not be able to form a government next time if the temple is not built, but the 'Rama temple' will be built," he said, adding that the current government headed by Narendra Modi was a strong government and could easily build the temple by taking a strong-willed move.
The issue of "Rama Temple" has been pending in the country's Supreme Court. "If the matter has to go to court, then the party should not use this as a poll plank and should tell the people that this is just another fake promise. They should not play with the emotions of Hindus," Thackeray added.
Thackeray also called on the Modi government to set a specific date for building the "Rama Temple".
